NSW · Wollongong Council
Stanwell Tops, 2508
Current weather
16.5°CClear sky
46% humidity · 15.8 km/h wind · 20.5° / 12.8° today · 2.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Life in Stanwell Tops revolves around the coast, with the feel of a smaller community that never strays far from the water. The beach sets the tone, while nearby towns and coastal pockets add variety without a long journey. Salt air and open horizons give the suburb a relaxed, outdoor feel year-round.
Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with family life visible on every street. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
Steady development is bringing new homes and gradual renewal to parts of the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because growth momentum and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar coastal suburbs, despite relative strength in housing affordability and community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 517
- Median age
- 38
- Median household income / week
- $2,663
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 8 of 172
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,625
- Employment rate
- 63.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 8 / 0 / 4
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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $795
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)
- 17
- Against the person
- 5
- Against property
- 5
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 32.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 103 residents
- State safety percentile
- 9.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +6.5%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order28
- Domestic Violence Related Assault19
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment40
- Malicious Damage To Property27
- Steal From Motor Vehicle19
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
20 public transport stops in this suburb
- Annesley Av At Stirling St
- Bald Hill Lookout
- Bendena Gardens At Plateau Rd
- Bendena Gardens At Stonehaven Rd
- Stonehaven Rd At Annesley Av
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).
29 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure185 ANNESLEY AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Pending Court Appeal
2025· 4 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool39 ANNESLEY AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space30 SOUTHVIEW AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 PLATEAU ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Withdrawn
June 2025
- Hotel or motel accommodation; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia31 STONEHAVEN ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Under Assessment
2024· 3 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 PLATEAU ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
October 2024
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)10 LONGVIEW CRESCENT STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
March 2024
- Advertising and signage; Function centre; Recreation facility (outdoor)51 BENDENA GARDENS STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
2023· 5 proposals
August 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development32 STONEHAVEN ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
May 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development6A LONGVIEW CRESCENT STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing18 PLATEAU ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
April 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs17 SOUTHVIEW AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
March 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development22 BENDENA GARDENS STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
2022· 5 proposals
November 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development22 BENDENA GARDENS STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development16 PLATEAU ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
September 2022
- Bed and breakfast accommodation31 STONEHAVEN ROAD, STANWELL TOPSWithdrawn
April 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Demolition31 STONEHAVEN ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
March 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development22 LONGVIEW CRESCENT STANWELL TOPS 2508Withdrawn
2021· 7 proposals
November 2021
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations and additions to residential development22 LONGVIEW CRESCENT STANWELL TOPS 2508Withdrawn
- Alterations and additions to residential development6 ANNESLEY AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
September 2021
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces26 longview crescent, stanwell topsDetermined
- Pools / decks / fencing; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees22 SOUTHVIEW AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Withdrawn
August 2021
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces34 LONGVIEW CRESCENT STANWELL TOPS 2508Withdrawn
June 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development38 ANNESLEY AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
March 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development5 PLATEAU ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
2020· 4 proposals
November 2020
- Alterations and additions to residential development17 ANNESLEY AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
October 2020
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development; Retaining walls, protection of trees34 LONGVIEW CRESCENT STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
September 2020
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces26 LONGVIEW CRESCENT STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development38 ANNESLEY AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
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
15 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (5)
- Annesley Ave opp Stirling StBus stop
- Bendena Gardens at Stonehaven RdBus stop
- Bendena Gardens opp Plateau RdBus stop
- Stonehaven Rd at Annesley AveBus stop
- Stonehaven Rd opp Annesley AveBus stop
- Parking (2)
- Playground
- 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
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Henry Hallorhan ParkPark
- The Tops Conference CentrePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Otford railway tunnel (former)Illawarra Railway, OtfordSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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)
- 2
- 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
- 39.5/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3573rd in Australia
- State rank
- 1121st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #55 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #116 among Coastal & beach 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
- Annesley Ave opp Stirling Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Bendena Gardens at Stonehaven Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Bendena Gardens opp Plateau Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Parkingamenitiesparking
- Parkingamenitiesparking
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Wollongong Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.