NSW · Coffs Harbour Council
Lowanna, 2450
Current weather
13.7°CClear sky
96% humidity · 8.8 km/h wind · 16.1° / 11° today · 1.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Lowanna offers a slower smaller community life in Coffs Harbour, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Wide horizons and a country quiet give the area a restorative, unhurried atmosphere.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Transport options are solid enough for daily errands and regular trips further afield.
Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state. Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.
The desirability score is below average, pulled down chiefly by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 359
- Median age
- 51
- Median household income / week
- $820
- Dwelling vacancy
- 17.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 29 of 169
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,000
- Employment rate
- 39.7%
- 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
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $680
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $620
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 433
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)
- 48
- Against the person
- 12
- Against property
- 17
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 133.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 30 residents
- State safety percentile
- 87.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -10.9%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order390
- Breach Bail Conditions817
- Domestic Violence Related Assault416
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment572
- Malicious Damage To Property460
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
- 793
- Lowanna 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
8 public transport stops in this suburb
- 314 Camp Creek Rd
- 32 Grafton St
- 33 Grafton St
- 33 Grafton St
- Camp Creek Rd At Moleton Rd
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).
27 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureLot 18 Grafton Street, Lowanna, NSW, 2450 DP 11130Determined
2025· 4 proposals
August 2025
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)400 CAMP CREEK ROAD LOWANNA 2450Determined
July 2025
- Subdivision334-364 MOLE CREEK ROAD LOWANNA 2450Withdrawn
May 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure461 MOLE CREEK ROAD LOWANNA 2450Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Agriculture95 CAMP CREEK ROAD LOWANNA 2450Determined
2024· 5 proposals
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure14 GRAFTON STREET LOWANNA 2450Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Manufactured home5 LORNE STREET LOWANNA 2450Determined
July 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Fences; Landscaping structures; Minor building alterations (external)112A Cavanaghs Road Lowanna NSW 2450Determined
March 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure132 MOLE CREEK ROAD LOWANNA 2450Determined
February 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure5 LORNE STREET LOWANNA 2450Determined
2023· 4 proposals
September 2023
- Shed132 MOLE CREEK ROAD LOWANNA 2450Determined
August 2023
- Shed11 WILSON STREET LOWANNA 2450Determined
- Farm buildings; Shed33 CAVANAGHS ROAD LOWANNA 2450Determined
February 2023
- Dwelling1 GRAFTON STREET LOWANNA 2450Determined
2022· 7 proposals
December 2022
- Dual occupancy209 CAMP CREEK ROAD LOWANNA 2450Determined
November 2022
- Dwelling18 GRAFTON STREET LOWANNA 2450Determined
October 2022
- Dwelling; Garages, carports and car parking spaces132 MOLE CREEK ROAD LOWANNA 2450Withdrawn
August 2022
- Shed1 GRAFTON STREET LOWANNA 2450Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development3 LORNE STREET LOWANNA 2450Determined
January 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs11 WILSON STREET LOWANNA 2450Determined
- Other200 CAMP CREEK ROAD LOWANNA 2450Determined
2021· 5 proposals
December 2021
- Shed11 LORNE STREET LOWANNA 2450Determined
September 2021
- Dwelling22 GRAFTON STREET LOWANNA 2450Determined
- Dwelling4 STANLEY STREET LOWANNA 2450Determined
May 2021
- Dwelling25 CAVANAGHS ROAD LOWANNA 2450Determined
April 2021
- Other670 MOLETON ROAD LOWANNA 2450Determined
2020· 1 proposal
August 2020
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs209 CAMP CREEK ROAD LOWANNA 2450Withdrawn
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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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)
- 0
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
- 13.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6894th in Australia
- State rank
- 2132nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #589 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #1045 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
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime390
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime817
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime416
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime572
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime460
- 314 Camp Creek Rdtransport
- 32 Grafton Sttransport
- 33 Grafton Sttransport
- 33 Grafton Sttransport
- Camp Creek Rd At Moleton 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)
More in Coffs Harbour Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.