NSW · Cessnock Council
Kitchener, 2325
Current weather
16.3°CClear sky
66% humidity · 11.5 km/h wind · 21.5° / 13.2° today · 3.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Kitchener is a quieter smaller community in Cessnock, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with family life visible on every street. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible.
Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker safety and local dining and lifestyle amenities against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 679
- Median age
- 37
- Median household income / week
- $1,962
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 15 of 230
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 56.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 19 / 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)
- $463
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $570
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $550
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 271
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)
- 73
- Against the person
- 23
- Against property
- 29
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 107.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 30 residents
- State safety percentile
- 76th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +3.1%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order198
- Breach Bail Conditions379
- Domestic Violence Related Assault299
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment371
- Malicious Damage To Property332
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
- 930
- Kitchener 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
23 public transport stops in this suburb
- 238 Quorrobolong Rd
- Abermain St At Aberdare St
- Cessnock St Opp Khartoum Hotel
- Khartoum Hotel, Cessnock St
- Kitchener Public School, Richmond 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).
100 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure24 BELLBIRD STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool10 COOLY AVENUE KITCHENER 2325Determined
February 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development18 EARL PARK COURT KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure10 COOLY AVENUE KITCHENER 2325Determined
2025· 6 proposals
October 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure22 EARL PARK COURT KITCHENER 2325Determined
September 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure34 BELLBIRD STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation10 Hebburn Street, KitchenerDetermined
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation10 HEBBURN STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool66 ABERDARE STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
February 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport104 STANFORD STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
2024· 4 proposals
September 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure48 STANFORD STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
May 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool29 CESSNOCK STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
March 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool23 EARL PARK COURT KITCHENER 2325Determined
February 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool63 STANFORD STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
2023· 21 proposals
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 EARL PARK COURT KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)12 ABERDARE STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure16 ABERDARE STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure24 EARL PARK COURT KITCHENER 2325Determined
October 2023
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure10 ABERDARE STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Shed13 EARL PARK COURT KITCHENER 2325Determined
September 2023
- Shed; Erection of a new structure67 ABERDARE STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure55 STANFORD STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing21 EARL PARK COURT KITCHENER 2325Determined
August 2023
- Shed9 CESSNOCK STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Shed4 EARL PARK COURT KITCHENER 2325Determined
July 2023
- Shed55 STANFORD STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Shed67 ABERDARE STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
June 2023
- Dual occupancy25 MOUNTAIN VIEW PLACE KITCHENER 2325Determined
May 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces10 SQUIRE PLACE KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing80 STANFORD STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
April 2023
- Shed130 STANFORD STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Shed79 ABERNETHY STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Shed59 STANFORD STREET KITCHENER 2325Withdrawn
March 2023
- Dwelling28 EARL PARK COURT KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Retaining walls, protection of trees9 EARL PARK COURT KITCHENER 2325Determined
2022· 5 proposals
November 2022
- Shed25 MOUNTAIN VIEW PLACE KITCHENER 2325Determined
October 2022
- Shed73 ABERNETHY STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Shed29 CESSNOCK STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
September 2022
- Earthworks / change in levels; Shed28 EARL PARK COURT KITCHENER 2325Determined
- Retaining walls, protection of trees59 STANFORD STREET KITCHENER 2325Determined
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
14 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bbq
- 237 Quorrobolong RdBus stop
- 238 Quorrobolong RdBus stop
- Abermain St at Aberdare StBus stop
- Cessnock St opp Khartoum HotelBus stop
- Khartoum Hotel, Cessnock StBus stop
- Kitchener Public School, Richmond StBus stop
- Richmond St at Stanford StBus stop
- Stanford St after Quorrobolong RdBus stop
- Stanford St before Quorrobolong 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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Poppethead ParkPark
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)
- 4/10
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)
- 2
- 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
- 29.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5467th in Australia
- State rank
- 1724th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #84 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #754 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
- 237 Quorrobolong Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 238 Quorrobolong Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Abermain St at Aberdare Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Cessnock St opp Khartoum Hotelamenitiesbus_stop
- Khartoum Hotelamenities19 Cessnock Streetpub
- Khartoum Hotel, Cessnock Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Kitchener Public School, Richmond Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Public toiletsamenitiestoilets
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.