NSW · Clarence Valley Council
Rushforth, 2460
Current weather
17.9°CMainly clear
75% humidity · 12.6 km/h wind · 22° / 11.4° today · 1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Rushforth is a quieter smaller community in Clarence Valley, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Wide horizons and a country quiet give the area a restorative, unhurried atmosphere.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Reasonable public transport access helps with commuting and getting around locally.
Homes offer solid value for the lifestyle on offer. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and growth momentum against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 285
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $1,524
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 5 of 104
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,515
- Employment rate
- 53%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 6 / 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)
- $450
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $530
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $486
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 170
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)
- 40
- Against the person
- 10
- Against property
- 16
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 140.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 28 residents
- State safety percentile
- 88.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +5.6%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order298
- Breach Bail Conditions527
- Domestic Violence Related Assault274
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment387
- Malicious Damage To Property339
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
14 public transport stops in this suburb
- 148 Watters Rd
- 244 Watters Rd
- Rushforth Rd Opp 545
- Watters Rd Turnaround
- Woolwich Rd At Watters 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).
15 planning-related records
2025· 2 proposals
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool120 WOOLWICH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
February 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure120 WOOLWICH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
2024· 1 proposal
November 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool66-96 WOOLWICH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
2023· 6 proposals
December 2023
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Landscaping structures; Manufactured home; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation252-298 RUSHFORTH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure138-160 WOOLWICH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
July 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing24 Daniels Close Rushforth NSW 2460Determined
June 2023
- Dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs601 RUSHFORTH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
March 2023
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Retaining walls, protection of trees458 RUSHFORTH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
January 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing300-336 RUSHFORTH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
2022· 5 proposals
July 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces33 FAIRWAY DRIVE RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
April 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development27 FAIRWAY DRIVE RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces46 TALLOWOOD STREET RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
February 2022
- Shed27 FAIRWAY DRIVE RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
- Shed66-96 WOOLWICH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
2021· 1 proposal
August 2021
- Dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Garages, carports and car parking spaces601 RUSHFORTH ROAD RUSHFORTH 2460Determined
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)
- 4/10
- 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
- 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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 31.7/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5007th in Australia
- State rank
- 1600th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #339 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #673 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 60%
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 Ordercrime298
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime527
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime274
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime387
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime339
- 148 Watters Rdtransport
- 244 Watters Rdtransport
- Rushforth Rd Opp 545transport
- Watters Rd Turnaroundtransport
- Woolwich Rd At Watters 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 Clarence Valley Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.