NSW · Port Stephens Council
Wallalong, 2320
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
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
In Port Stephens, Wallalong keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Wide horizons and a country quiet give the area a restorative, unhurried atmosphere.
Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with family life visible on every street. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Transport options are solid enough for daily errands and regular trips further afield.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability and community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,049
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $2,547
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 16 of 334
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,184
- Employment rate
- 71.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 25 / 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)
- $485
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $620
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $600
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 357
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)
- 111
- Against the person
- 31
- Against property
- 41
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 105.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 34 residents
- State safety percentile
- 74.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -5.7%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions609
- Domestic Violence Related Assault329
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment381
- Malicious Damage To Property307
- Steal From Motor Vehicle237
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
- Bowethorne Park, Morpeth St
- High St At McClymonts Swamp Rd
- McClymonts Swamp Rd At High St
- Rosebank Dr After High St
- Rosebank Dr Before High St
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).
82 planning-related records
2026· 7 proposals
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool114 HIGH STREET WALLALONG 2320Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)3 SCOTT STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool27 ELIZABETH STREET WALLALONG 2320Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool27 ELIZABETH STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah117 HIGH STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Subdivision7 SCOTT STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
January 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure22 SCOTT STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
2025· 13 proposals
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)101 HIGH STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Rainwater tanks29 Morpeth Street WallalongDetermined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 SCOTT STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)29 ELIZABETH STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool16 SANCTUARY PLACE WALLALONG 2320Determined
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool62 MCCLYMONTS SWAMP ROAD WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure98 CLARENCE STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Swimming pool54 SCOTT STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure27 ELIZABETH STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
June 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure44 SCOTT STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
May 2025
- Subdivision7 SCOTT STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Rainwater tanks29 Morpeth Street WallalongDetermined
March 2025
- Temporary building, structure or use; Function centre76 WALLALONG ROAD WALLALONG 2320Determined
2024· 16 proposals
December 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure72 HIGH STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
November 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support10 SANCTUARY PLACE WALLALONG 2320Determined
October 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool18 SANCTUARY PLACE WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure62 MCCLYMONTS SWAMP ROAD WALLALONG 2320Determined
August 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport13 MORPETH VIEWS WALLALONG 2320Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure8 GROSSMAN PLACE WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Subdivision70 WALLALONG ROAD WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)62 MCCLYMONTS SWAMP ROAD WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (external)2 WINDERMERE PLACE WALLALONG 2320Determined
May 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah8 DURHAM GROVE WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure2F ROSEBANK DRIVE WALLALONG 2320Determined
March 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool3 WINDERMERE PLACE WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dairy (pasture-based)70 WALLALONG ROAD WALLALONG 2320Determined
February 2024
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 MORPETH VIEWS WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 GROSSMAN PLACE WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces44 ROSEBANK DRIVE WALLALONG 2320Determined
2023· 4 proposals
November 2023
- Shed; Erection of a new structure75 HIGH STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Function centre76 WALLALONG ROAD WALLALONG 2320Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure27 ELIZABETH STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 ELIZABETH STREET WALLALONG 2320Determined
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
9 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bowthorne Park, Morpeth StBus stop
- High St after Clarence Town Rd (Hail and Ride)Bus stop
- High St at McClymonts Swamp RdBus stop
- High St at Morpeth StBus stop
- McClymonts Swamp Rd at High StBus stop
- Rosebank Dr after High StBus stop
- Rosebank Dr before High StBus stop
- Playground
- Sports field
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bowthorne ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 2
- 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
- 36.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4095th in Australia
- State rank
- 1290th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #195 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #466 among Country & regional 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
- Bowthorne Park, Morpeth Stamenitiesbus_stop
- High St after Clarence Town Rd (Hail and Ride)amenitiesbus_stop
- High St at McClymonts Swamp Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- High St at Morpeth Stamenitiesbus_stop
- McClymonts Swamp Rd at High Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Rosebank Dr after High Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Rosebank Dr before High Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Sports fieldamenitiespitch
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime609
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Port Stephens Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.