NSW · Byron Council
Upper Main Arm, 2482
Current weather
17.4°CMainly clear
86% humidity · 1.5 km/h wind · 19.8° / 12.7° today · 0 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Upper Main Arm is a quieter smaller community in Byron, 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. The landscape itself is part of the lifestyle: open paddocks, big skies and room to breathe.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, with local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety the main drags compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 283
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $850
- Dwelling vacancy
- 14.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 18 of 121
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,888
- Employment rate
- 44.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 4 / 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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $900
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 46
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)
- 22
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 10
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 77.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 47 residents
- State safety percentile
- 55.7th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +22.6%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions40
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment58
- Malicious Damage To Property47
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault48
- Steal From Motor Vehicle38
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,016
- Main Arm Upper 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
18 public transport stops in this suburb
- 1064 Main Arm Rd
- Kohinur Hall, Main Arm Rd
- Main Arm Rd Opp 1064
- Main Arm Rd Opp Dry Creek Rd
- Main Arm Rd Opp Main Arm Upper Public School
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).
7 planning-related records
2025· 3 proposals
August 2025
- Shed; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia21 DRY CREEK ROAD UPPER MAIN ARM 2482Determined
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia21 DRY CREEK ROAD UPPER MAIN ARM 2482Determined
May 2025
- Shed; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia21 DRY CREEK ROAD UPPER MAIN ARM 2482Deferred Commencement
2023· 1 proposal
June 2023
- Shed1304 MAIN ARM ROAD UPPER MAIN ARM 2482Operational consent issued
2021· 2 proposals
October 2021
- Recreational Uses1156 MAIN ARM ROAD UPPER MAIN ARM 2482Deferred Commencement
- Other1241 Main Arm Road Main ArmDeferred Commencement
2020· 1 proposal
September 2020
- Alterations and additions to residential development1064 MAIN ARM ROAD UPPER MAIN ARM 2482Determined
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)
- 3/10
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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 20.8/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6494th in Australia
- State rank
- 2029th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #349 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #976 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 68%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime40
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime58
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime47
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime48
- Steal From Motor Vehiclecrime38
- 1064 Main Arm Rdtransport
- Kohinur Hall, Main Arm Rdtransport
- Main Arm Rd Opp 1064transport
- Main Arm Rd Opp Dry Creek Rdtransport
- Main Arm Rd Opp Main Arm Upper Public Schooltransport
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 Byron Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.