NSW · Shoalhaven Council
Milton, 2538
Current weather
14.5°CClear sky
63% humidity · 14 km/h wind · 19.1° / 10.9° today · 4.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- Cycling
- High desirability
Suburb profile
As a regional hub in Shoalhaven, Milton combines local convenience with the appeal of a smaller community that feels genuinely its own. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Neighbourhood food and coffee spots add warmth to the local routine. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Homes offer solid value for the lifestyle on offer.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker growth momentum and schools and education against similar regional towns, even with parks and green space and transport and access holding up better.
Population
- Population
- 1,801
- Median age
- 55
- Median household income / week
- $1,325
- Dwelling vacancy
- 10.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 79 of 745
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 44.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 41 / 30 / 16
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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 59
- Against the person
- 15
- Against property
- 27
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 32.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 120 residents
- State safety percentile
- 9.1th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +25.9%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Fraud6
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment8
- Malicious Damage To Property9
- Motor Vehicle Theft6
- Trespass6
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
95 public transport stops in this suburb
- Croobyar Rd After Drury Lane
- Princes Hwy At Church St
- Princes Hwy At Church St
- Princes Hwy At Church St
- Princes Hwy At Thomas 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)
Roadworks & transport
3 active roadworks / incidents
- RoadworksPrinces Highway, Warden Road16 Nov 2025 – 31 Aug 2026
- Use an alternative route.Myrtle Forest Drive, Porter Cct14 Jul 2025 – 14 Jul 2026
- Use an alternative route.Porter Cct, Myrtle Forest Drive14 Jul 2025 – 14 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
3 planning-related records
2025· 1 proposal
April 2025
- Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Outdoor dining - general; Food and drink premise1/41 Wason St, MILTON Lot 2 SP 65044Determined
2021· 2 proposals
November 2021
- Subdivision of land26 Myrtle St MiltonDetermined
February 2021
- Farm buildings; Other273 Wilfords lane Milton NSW 2538Determined
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
106 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Milton IGA + LiquorAlcohol
- The Heritage BakeryBakery
- Bendigo BankBank
- Swan Bathroom and Kitchen CentreBathroom Furnishing
- Bbq
- Bench (12)
- Velma Hazel WalshBench
- Bicycle Parking (3)
- Croobyar Rd after Drury LaneBus stop
- Frogs Holla Sports Ground, Matron Porter DrBus 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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Mick Ryan ParkPark
- Milton Memorial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 9
- Emergency department
- On site
- Coolooli Counselling & Therapy Centrecounselling
- Denture Clinicdentist
- Laverty Pathologysample_collection
- Milton Family Medical Practice & South Coast Skin Cancer Clinicdoctor
- Milton Lighthouse Medical Practicedoctor
- Milton Medical Centredoctor
- Milton Ulladulla HospitalPrinces Highwayhospital
- Surgical Specialties Miltondoctor
- TerryWhite ChemmartPrinces Highwaypharmacy
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)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Budawang Early Learning Centrechildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 41
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- 55.4/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 21% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1321st in Australia
- State rank
- 433rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #25 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #78 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 81%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- BPamenitiescar_wash
- BP Miltonamenities32 Princes Highway, Miltonfuel
- BP Miltonamenitiesgas
- Baar Woodfiredamenitiesrestaurant
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Shoalhaven Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.