suburb.guide

NSW · Cessnock Council

North Rothbury, 2335

Current weather

17.9°CClear sky

60% humidity · 18.8 km/h wind · 21.6° / 13.3° today · 3.2 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

48.3/100
Average

Top 32% of New South Wales' suburbs

76% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • Excellent transport
  • High desirability
What North Rothbury is known for: Green suburb, Excellent transport, High desirability

Suburb profile

North Rothbury offers a slower mid-sized suburb life in Cessnock, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.

A younger crowd gives the area energy, with family life visible on every street. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.

Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers.

The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar regional towns, even with growth momentum and housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

Population
2,502
Median age
30
Median household income / week
$2,206
Dwelling vacancy
5.9%
Unoccupied private dwellings
54 of 910
Median monthly mortgage
$2,000
Employment rate
71.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
82 / 22 / 8

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)
$710
All types (January to March 2026)
$700
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
131

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

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
187
Against the person
55
Against property
90
Rate per 1,000 residents
74.7
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 45 residents
State safety percentile
53.4th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+26.7%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • Domestic Violence Related Assault62
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment48
  • Malicious Damage To Property73
  • Motor Vehicle Theft43
  • Steal From Retail Store38

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

50 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Hanwood Estate, Wine Country Dr
  • Mayne St Before Short St
  • Rothbury St After Scott St
  • Wine Country Dr At Thomas St
  • Wine Country Dr Before Mayne 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).

951 planning-related records

2026· 40 proposals

  • June 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    46 CHEETHAM CRESCENT NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Additional Information Requested
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    27 COULTER STREET NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Additional Information Requested
  • Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    24 SWEENEY ROAD NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Additional Information Requested
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    50 CAPHILLY PARKWAY NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Additional Information Requested
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    Lot 514 DP1289940 9 Masonry Drive North RothburyDetermined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    Lot 507 DP1289940 16 Masonry Drive North RothburyDetermined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    Lot 512 DP1289940 5 Masonry Drive North RothburyDetermined
  • Dwelling house; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    12 EMPORIUM DRIVE NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Additional Information Requested
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    21 EMPORIUM DRIVE NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    4 HEDLEY WAY NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Dwelling house; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    14 EMPORIUM DRIVE NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Additional Information Requested
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    4 DALEY WAY NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Additional Information Requested

  • May 2026

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    4 LANCASTER VISTA NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    12 RAMPLING AVENUE NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    39 MORNINGSTAR CRESCENT NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Additional Information Requested
  • Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure
    64 BARCLAY DRIVE NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Under Assessment
  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    31 PERSOONIA BOULEVARD NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined

  • April 2026

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    6 DEMPSEY WAY NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    19 MARKET FAIR ROAD NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    25 STONEWALL DRIVE NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    21 EMPORIUM DRIVE NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Withdrawn
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    3 HAVERTY AVENUE NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    28 ABBERTON PARKWAY NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    50 CAPHILLY PARKWAY NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    34 MORAN PARKWAY NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    88 ABBERTON PARKWAY NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    56 CAPHILLY PARKWAY NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    33 PERSOONIA BOULEVARD NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    15 MARKET FAIR ROAD NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined

  • March 2026

  • Demolition; Hotel or motel accommodation; Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Business identification sign; Car park
    1823 WINE COUNTRY DRIVE NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    1 BARCLAY DRIVE NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    6 CAPHILLY PARKWAY NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    17 MARKET FAIR ROAD NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    12 MORGAN STREET NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    14 TRADER STREET NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Demolition
    23 ROTHBURY STREET NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    25 Mcduff Avenue North RothburyAdditional Information Requested
  • Erection of a new structure; Group home (permanent)
    18 MCDUFF AVENUE NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    35 WETHERED CRESCENT NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined

  • February 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    15 BARCLAY DRIVE NORTH ROTHBURY 2335Determined

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

11 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bench
  • Bendeich Dr opp Oleary LaneBus stop
  • Hanwood Estate, Wine Country DrBus stop
  • Mayne St before Short StBus stop
  • Rothbury St after Scott StBus stop
  • Rothbury St before Wine Country DrBus stop
  • Rothbury St opp Morgan StBus stop
  • Wine Country Dr at Thomas StBus stop
  • Wine Country Dr opp Mitchell StBus stop
  • Playground

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

  • Ayrfield Memorial ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
6/10

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

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Huntlee 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
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)
22
Parks (OSM)
7

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
48.3/100 — Average
State standing
Top 32% of New South Wales' suburbs
National rank
2147th in Australia
State rank
677th in NSW
Peer rank
#32 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
Cohort rank
#145 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
76%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • Benchamenitiesbench
  • Bendeich Dr opp Oleary Laneamenitiesbus_stop
  • Hanwood Estate, Wine Country Dramenitiesbus_stop
  • Mayne St before Short Stamenitiesbus_stop
  • Playgroundamenitiesplayground
  • Rothbury St after Scott Stamenitiesbus_stop
  • Rothbury St before Wine Country Dramenitiesbus_stop
  • Rothbury St opp Morgan Stamenitiesbus_stop
  • Sports fieldamenitiespitch
  • Wine Country Dr at Thomas Stamenitiesbus_stop

Data sources & freshness

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.