NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Swansea, 2281
Current weather
16.9°CClear sky
67% humidity · 13.5 km/h wind · 20.8° / 13.8° today · 3.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Swansea is a coastal mid-sized suburb where beach life and relaxed outdoor living shape the local character. The coast is the anchor, with regional towns nearby for markets, dining and weekend exploring. Salt air and open horizons give the suburb a relaxed, outdoor feel year-round.
A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because community and employment and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar coastal suburbs, despite relative strength in growth momentum and parks and green space.
Population
- Population
- 5,044
- Median age
- 53
- Median household income / week
- $1,037
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 233 of 2,443
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,908
- Employment rate
- 41.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 150 / 195 / 482
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)
- $550
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $750
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $725
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 90
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)
- 334
- Against the person
- 86
- Against property
- 123
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 66.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 59 residents
- State safety percentile
- 44.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +2.7%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order78
- Domestic Violence Related Assault78
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment96
- Malicious Damage To Property83
- Other Offences210
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 982
- St Patrick's Primary SchoolPrimary
- Swansea Public SchoolPrimary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
123 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bowman St At Peel St
- Pacific Hwy After Lake Rd
- Pacific Hwy After Old Pacific Hwy
- Pacific Hwy Opp Peel St
- Swansea Library, Pacific Hwy
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).
300 planning-related records
2026· 17 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure11 WILLS STREET SWANSEA 2281Additional Information Requested
- Shed; Erection of a new structure17 KENNEDY STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
May 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support161 PARBURY ROAD SWANSEA 2281Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool9 PEGGY STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation24 BOYD STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure121 NORTHCOTE AVENUE SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool3A RAWSON STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure52 CATHERINE STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure25 SWANSEA STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Garage, carport or carparking space11 WILLS STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space52 STURT STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space23 BELMONT STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Mobile food and drink outlet; Food and drink premise1 DOBINSON DRIVE SWANSEA 2281Under Assessment
February 2026
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development113 NORTHCOTE AVENUE SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space39 SWANSEA STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure115 PELICAN STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)1 BELMONT STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure43 RAWSON STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure196 PACIFIC HIGHWAY SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space12 PELICAN STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool5 GRAY STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development68 CATHERINE STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
November 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure10 SWANSEA STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Garage, carport or carparking space12A GALGABBA STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space36 MOXEY STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Demolition19 BAY STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool99 NORTHCOTE AVENUE SWANSEA 2281Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)69 LAKE ROAD SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure24 LAKESIDE DRIVE SWANSEA 2281Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation26 BOYD STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure115 PELICAN STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space12 GALGABBA STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 OXLEY STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces56 PELICAN STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 KENNEDY STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space39 SWANSEA STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure16 WILLS STREET SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space36 MOXEY STREET SWANSEA 2281Withdrawn
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space36 LAKE ROAD SWANSEA 2281Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space247 OLD PACIFIC HIGHWAY SWANSEA 2281Determined
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
88 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (17)
- Bowman St at Alexander PlBus stop
- Bowman St at Gray StBus stop
- Bowman St at Peel StBus stop
- Bowman St opp Alexander PlBus stop
- Bowman St opp Gray StBus stop
- Bowman St opp Lake RdBus stop
- Bowman St opp Swansea LibraryBus stop
- Bus stop
- Catherine St at Cork PlBus 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
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Eddie Charlton ReservePark
- Parbury ParkPark
- Richards Road ReservePark
- Toby ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
- Swansea Pre-School Kindergartenkindergarten
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)
- 11
- Parks (OSM)
- 8
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
- 55.0/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 21% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1373rd in Australia
- State rank
- 447th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #15 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #56 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
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
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Lake Macquarie Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.