NSW · Port Stephens Council
Nelsons Plains, 2324
Current weather
17.6°CClear sky
64% humidity · 11.4 km/h wind · 22.4° / 13.5° today · 1.7 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Nelsons Plains is a quieter smaller community in Port Stephens, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
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. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability and community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 326
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income / week
- $2,250
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 8 of 101
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,100
- Employment rate
- 57.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 13 / 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)
- $498
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $610
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $578
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 194
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)
- 36
- Against the person
- 11
- Against property
- 12
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 110.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 30 residents
- State safety percentile
- 78th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -12%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions384
- Domestic Violence Related Assault228
- Fraud159
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment331
- Malicious Damage To Property237
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
4 public transport stops in this suburb
- Seaham Rd At Hinton Rd
- Seaham Rd At Hinton Rd
- Seaham Rd Opp Hinton Rd (Hail And Ride)
- Seaham Rd Opp Hinton Rd (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).
32 planning-related records
2026· 3 proposals
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support367 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool4 RALSTONS ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support73 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Withdrawn
2025· 3 proposals
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support30 NOBLES ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Under Assessment
March 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1428 RAYMOND TERRACE ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)16 SOPHIA JANE DRIVE NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
2024· 5 proposals
December 2024
- Home business; Hours of operation and trading6 SOPHIA JANE DRIVE NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure186 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
October 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure527 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support367 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)16 SOPHIA JANE DRIVE NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
2023· 1 proposal
July 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing174 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
2022· 7 proposals
October 2022
- Dwelling; Demolition; Earthworks / change in levels; Farm buildings186 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs727 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
September 2022
- Earthworks / change in levels218 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
August 2022
- Shed12 RALSTONS ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
June 2022
- Earthworks / change in levels232 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
May 2022
- Earthworks / change in levels186 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
March 2022
- Farm buildings41 RALSTONS ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
2021· 9 proposals
December 2021
- Shed1428 RAYMOND TERRACE ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
- Earthworks / change in levels415 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
- Other10 RALSTONS ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
November 2021
- Earthworks / change in levels218 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
August 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing; Shed31A NOBLES ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
May 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing17 RALSTONS ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
April 2021
- Farm buildings39 RALSTONS ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
February 2021
- Earthworks / change in levels920 Hinton Road, Nelsons PlainsWithdrawn
- Dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Garages, carports and car parking spaces600 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
2020· 4 proposals
December 2020
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Shed980 HINTON ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
November 2020
- Dwelling; Earthworks / change in levels; Shed186 SEAHAM ROAD NELSONS PLAINS 2324Under Assessment
October 2020
- Change of use16 SOPHIA JANE DRIVE NELSONS PLAINS 2324Determined
- Shed8 SOPHIA JANE DRIVE NELSONS PLAINS 2324Under Assessment
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
2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Swimming pool (2)
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
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)
- 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
- 29.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5445th in Australia
- State rank
- 1716th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #391 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #749 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
- Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime384
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime228
- Fraudcrime159
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime331
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime237
- Seaham Rd At Hinton Rdtransport
- Seaham Rd At Hinton Rdtransport
- Seaham Rd Opp Hinton Rd (Hail And Ride)transport
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 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.