NSW · Mid-Coast Council
Wards River, 2422
Current weather
13.7°CClear sky
79% humidity · 2.1 km/h wind · 20.7° / 9.8° today · 2.3 mm rain
Updated
- River access
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Wards River is a residential smaller community in Mid-Coast with a familiar suburban feel. Distance from the capital is noticeable, but the trade-off is space, calm and a community that knows its neighbours. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here.
Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself. Transport options are solid enough for daily errands and regular trips further afield. Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots.
Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
Population
- Population
- 178
- Median age
- 55
- Median household income / week
- $783
- Dwelling vacancy
- 12.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 11 of 90
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,465
- Employment rate
- 36.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 11 / 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)
- $520
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)
- 6
- Against the person
- 3
- Against property
- 3
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 33.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 59 residents
- State safety percentile
- 9.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -14.1%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault22
- Fraud24
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment25
- Malicious Damage To Property28
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault17
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
10 public transport stops in this suburb
- 19 The Bucketts Way
- 2047 The Bucketts Way
- 2377 The Bucketts Way
- The Bucketts Way At Pages Rd
- The Bucketts Way Opp 22
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).
12 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Other Infrastructure; Infrastructure2049 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422On Exhibition
2025· 3 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)1089 JOHNSONS CREEK ROAD WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
May 2025
- Subdivision2135 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
March 2025
- Subdivision19 BURTONS ROAD WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
2024· 2 proposals
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Agriculture2453 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
February 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure12 WARD STREET WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
2023· 4 proposals
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia2453 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
September 2023
- Other2451 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
July 2023
- Dual occupancy2419 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
June 2023
- Subdivision of land2135 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Withdrawn
2021· 2 proposals
November 2021
- Dwelling2453 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
August 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development16 THE BUCKETTS WAY WARDS RIVER 2422Determined
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
7 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench
- 22 The Bucketts WayBus stop
- The Bucketts Way opp 22Bus stop
- Playground
- Australia PostPost office
- Public toilets
- Shelter
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
- Wards River Community ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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
- 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)
- 4
- 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
Recent changes
- 22 The Bucketts Wayamenitiesbus_stop
- Australia Postamenitiespost_office
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Public toiletsamenitiestoilets
- Shelteramenitiesshelter
- The Bucketts Way opp 22amenitiesbus_stop
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime22
- Fraudcrime24
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime25
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 Mid-Coast Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.