NSW · Richmond Valley Council
Yorklea, 2470
Current weather
17.9°CMainly clear
83% humidity · 11.4 km/h wind · 22.1° / 14.2° today · 0 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Yorklea offers a slower smaller community life in Richmond Valley, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, 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. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
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.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker growth momentum and local dining and lifestyle amenities against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 349
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $1,385
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 7 of 129
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,517
- Employment rate
- 52.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 12 / 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)
- $375
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $545
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $478
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 80
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)
- 42
- Against the person
- 12
- Against property
- 14
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 120.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 29 residents
- State safety percentile
- 82.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -6.4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order137
- Breach Bail Conditions206
- Domestic Violence Related Assault130
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment175
- Malicious Damage To Property139
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
26 public transport stops in this suburb
- 870 Fogwells Rd
- Ellangowan Rd Opp Pennefather Cl
- Fogwells Rd Opp Vidlers Rd
- Johnsons Rd Before McMullens Bridge Rd
- Johnsons Rd Opp 445
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).
13 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
June 2026
- Subdivision833 FOGWELLS ROAD YORKLEA 2470Under Assessment
2025· 1 proposal
January 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool20 BAIRNSDALE SCHOOL ROAD YORKLEA 2470Determined
2024· 1 proposal
March 2024
- Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure15 VIDLERS ROAD YORKLEA 2470Determined
2023· 4 proposals
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure137 IMESONS ROAD YORKLEA 2470Determined
May 2023
- Dual occupancy310 ELLANGOWAN ROAD YORKLEA 2470Determined
- Shed930 ELLANGOWAN ROAD YORKLEA 2470Determined
February 2023
- Dual occupancy310 ELLANGOWAN ROAD YORKLEA 2470Determined
2022· 4 proposals
December 2022
- Dwelling46 PENNEFATHER CLOSE YORKLEA 2470Determined
November 2022
- DwellingLot 322 Yorklea Road ColebeeDetermined
July 2022
- Other431 FOGWELLS ROAD YORKLEA 2470Determined
May 2022
- Farm buildings880 FOGWELLS ROAD YORKLEA 2470Determined
2021· 2 proposals
December 2021
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces36 PENNEFATHER CLOSE YORKLEA 2470Determined
November 2021
- Shed715 FOGWELLS ROAD YORKLEA 2470Determined
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)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 34.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4411th in Australia
- State rank
- 1405th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #250 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #540 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 60%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime137
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime206
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime130
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime175
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime139
- 870 Fogwells Rdtransport
- Ellangowan Rd Opp Pennefather Cltransport
- Fogwells Rd Opp Vidlers Rdtransport
- Johnsons Rd Before McMullens Bridge Rdtransport
- Johnsons Rd Opp 445transport
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 Richmond Valley Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.