NSW · Dungog Council
Vacy, 2421
Current weather
17.6°CClear sky
61% humidity · 14.4 km/h wind · 21.9° / 12.6° today · 2.2 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Dungog, Vacy keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Wide horizons and a country quiet give the area a restorative, unhurried atmosphere.
The area suits established families and long-term locals, with a strong presence of young families throughout. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Pocket parks and green corners give residents room to get outside without leaving the neighbourhood.
Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Housing is well-priced for what you get: space, location and everyday convenience.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and schools and education lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in growth momentum and housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 719
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,803
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 18 of 270
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 63.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 10 / 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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 30
- Against the person
- 5
- Against property
- 13
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 41.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 144 residents
- State safety percentile
- 16.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +58.3%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Non-Dwelling7
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment5
- Liquor Offences29
- Malicious Damage To Property8
- Other Theft8
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
- 946
- Vacy 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
94 public transport stops in this suburb
- Vacy General Store, Gresford Rd
- Vacy General Store, Gresford Rd
- Vacy Public School, Gresford Rd
- Vacy Public School, Gresford Rd
- View St Before Horns Crossing 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).
168 planning-related records
2026· 23 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure44 SPOTTED GUM CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Subdivision50 FLYING FOX LANE VACY 2421Under Assessment
May 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure15 NIRVANA CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool39 MACKELLAR DRIVE VACY 2421Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool59 VIEW STREET VACY 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport30 SPOTTED GUM CLOSE VACY 2421Under Assessment
- Subdivision598 GRESFORD ROAD VACY 2421Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure62 LAWSON STREET VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure73 LENNOXTON ROAD VACY 2421Determined
March 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Supporting Development44 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure51 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure30 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure51 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure17 SPOTTED GUM CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Farm building41 CLARKES CROSSING CLOSE VACY 2421Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Rainwater tanks47 SPOTTED GUM CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure30 SPOTTED GUM CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure40 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Moveable dwelling10 GILMORE STREET VACY 2421Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cemetery783 GRESFORD ROAD VACY 2421Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Fences; Swimming pool47 GUNDAROO ROAD VACY 2421Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool281 LENNOXTON ROAD VACY 2421Determined
2025· 17 proposals
December 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure48 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure44 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool66 GUNDAROO ROAD VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation36 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure36 BOTTLEBRUSH CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure48 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 SPOTTED GUM CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming poolBOWER BIRD CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure54 SPOTTED GUM CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure33 MACKELLAR DRIVE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure49 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure30 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure50 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure30 SPOTTED GUM CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Subdivision776 Gresford Road, Vacy, 2421Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation62 LAWSON STREET VACY 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure33 BOTTLEBRUSH CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
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
4 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Vacy General Store, Gresford RdBus stop
- Vacy general storeConvenience store
- Playground
- Vacy Post OfficePost office
803 Gresford Road
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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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
- Vacy Bridge over Paterson RiverMain Road 128, VacySHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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)
- 7
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- 46.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 36% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2455th in Australia
- State rank
- 771st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #79 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #185 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Vacy General Store, Gresford Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Vacy Post Officeamenities803 Gresford Roadpost_office
- Vacy general storeamenitiesconvenience
- Break And Enter Non-Dwellingcrime7
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime5
- Liquor Offencescrime29
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime8
- Other Theftcrime8
- Vacy General Store, Gresford 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)
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Dungog Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.