Darlington
A $1,527,500 median house price sits in a suburb where household income ranks at the 63.2nd percentile nationally, a gap that tells you most of the wealth here is tied up in land rather than earnings. Darlington's 378 residents live across just 0.29 km2, producing a density of 1,292 people per km2, and 74.5% of dwellings are separate houses. Mining employs 26.9% of local workers, far above the state average, anchoring an economy built around the Hunter Valley resources sector. SEIFA places the suburb at decile 2 on the IEO (education and occupation) index, indicating lower workforce qualifications compared to most NSW areas.
Population
378
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,786/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
26
Median House
$1.5M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $1,527,500, derived from 2024-2025 sales data, climbed 6.8% from $1,445,000 in 2024 to $1,543,000 in 2025, continuing a steady upward trend. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,621, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.0%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the premium price point. Stock is dominated by separate houses at 74.5%, with semi-detached homes making up the remaining 25.5%. Bedroom distribution skews toward three-bedroom (40.6%) and four-plus (36.2%), suggesting family-sized homes are the norm. Outright owners (29.5%) are outnumbered by mortgage holders (41.7%), pointing to a buyer cohort still paying down recent purchases rather than long-established debt-free ownership.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1,527,500, derived from 2024-2025 sales data, climbed 6.8% from $1,445,000 in 2024 to $1,543,000 in 2025, continuing a steady upward trend. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,621, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.0%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the premium price point. Stock is dominated by separate houses at 74.5%, with semi-detached homes making up the remaining 25.5%. Bedroom distribution skews toward three-bedroom (40.6%) and four-plus (36.2%), suggesting family-sized homes are the norm. Outright owners (29.5%) are outnumbered by mortgage holders (41.7%), pointing to a buyer cohort still paying down recent purchases rather than long-established debt-free ownership.
For Investors
Renters make up 28.8% of households, with weekly rent at $333, modest compared to the $1,527,500 median house price. The implied gross yield is well below 2%, consistent with a capital-growth rather than yield-driven market. Vacancy sits at 1.8%, indicating low rental oversupply and stable tenant demand. Population growth projects at 0.49% annually over the medium term for the broader area. Overseas migration drives net inflows of 84 per year while internal migration produces a net outflow of 113, suggesting the suburb retains residents but does not attract domestic movers at scale. Development activity shows 18 applications lodged in the past 12 months, including dwelling alterations and institutional expansions, consistent with an established market rather than a high-growth supply pipeline.
Development Activity
Total DAs
147
Last 12 Months
26
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+18.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure, one of the few demographic areas where Darlington tracks younger than average. Overseas-born residents account for just 11.3%, which is 10.3 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting the Anglo-Celtic heritage dominating local ancestry: English (182 residents), Irish (34), Scottish (27) and German (23). University qualifications reach 19.1%, sitting 11 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with the IEO decile 2 classification indicating lower educational attainment compared to most NSW localities. Average household size is 2.3, marginally below the national figure. Couples with children (108 families) outnumber couples without children (94), and the below-national median age aligns with a family-oriented resident base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.5%
Houses
25.5%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Darlington's housing stock is almost entirely separate houses (74.5%) and semi-detached (25.5%), with no apartments recorded. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 40.6%, followed by four-plus bedrooms at 36.2% and two-bedroom at 23.1%, confirming that family homes define the local market. Tenure splits across outright ownership (29.5%), mortgage (41.7%) and renting (28.8%), with mortgage holders representing the largest share. Prices rose from $1,445,000 in 2024 to $1,543,000 in 2025, a 6.8% annual gain, with the current median at $1,527,500. Mortgage-to-income at 21.0% and rent-to-income at 18.6% are both below stress thresholds, indicating that existing residents manage housing costs without significant pressure relative to incomes sitting at the 63.2nd percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,621
Rent / wk
$333
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$796
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
1.8%
Unoccupied
3
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.9%
Couples, no children
295
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is the dominant employer at 26.9% of residents (32 workers), a share that dwarfs most NSW suburbs and reflects Darlington's position in the Hunter Valley resource corridor. Healthcare follows at 12.6%, with Utilities and Hospitality tied at 7.6% each and Wholesale at 6.7%. By occupation, Machinery and Drivers lead (36 workers) ahead of Clerical and Admin (24) and Labourers (21), a blue-collar skew consistent with the IEO decile 2 rating for education and occupation. The unemployment rate is 5.4%, above the low-disadvantage baseline, and the participation rate of 60.1% leaves 90 residents outside the labour force. IRSAD sits at decile 3 nationally, placing the suburb below the state median on combined advantage, largely because the occupational mix trends toward trade and manual roles rather than professional services.
Unemployment
3.7%
Labour Force
9,106
Unemployed
337
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
72.4%
Part-time
22.2%
Participation
60.1%
Employed
174
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.1%
Postgraduate
3.8%
Born Overseas
11.3%
Dwellings
157
Transport to Work
Car dependency is extreme at 96.4% of residents commuting by private vehicle, reflecting a location where public transport is not a practical daily option, higher than the national average. The vacancy rate of 1.8% indicates tight rental supply, which benefits existing tenants through stability. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on schools in neighbouring areas of the Singleton and Hunter Valley region. Crime data is not available for Darlington, though the IRSD decile 4 rating places the suburb in the lower-middle range nationally on relative disadvantage, below the state median. Volunteering participation is 12.3% and 4.7% of residents (17 people) need daily assistance, moderate figures for a small community of 378 where the household composition leans toward couples with children rather than aging singles.
Drive
96.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
N/A
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.49%/yr
(+85 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation in the broader statistical area edged from 17,550 in 2023 to 17,396 in 2025, a slight contraction, though medium forecasts project recovery to 18,050 by 2031 at 0.49% per year. The suburb itself recorded a 5.5% population rise over the prior 10-year period. The trajectory is aging: the senior share increased 3.7 points and the young adult share fell 1.7 points over the decade. Gentrification scores at 0, firmly classified as not gentrifying, with net internal outflow of 113 per year signalling that residents who leave are not replaced by higher-income newcomers. Overseas migration adds 84 per year, providing the main counterweight. Real income growth of 2.2% over the decade is modest, and affordability improved marginally from 42.7% in 2011 to 40.1% in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+84
Net Internal / yr
-113
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -113/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Darlington compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Darlington a good suburb to live in?
Darlington suits buyers who want a family-sized house in a low-density setting. Mortgage-to-income at 21.0% and rent-to-income at 18.6% are both below stress thresholds. The trade-offs are high car dependency at 96.4% and an IEO decile 2 rating, indicating fewer high-wage professional roles locally than the national average.
What is the median house price in Darlington?
The median house price is $1,527,500 based on 2024-2025 sales data. Prices rose 6.8% from $1,445,000 in 2024 to $1,543,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,621, and the household income of $1,786 per week keeps the mortgage-to-income ratio at a manageable 21.0%.
What schools are in Darlington?
No schools are recorded within Darlington's 0.29 km2 boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby towns in the Singleton and Hunter Valley region. Locally, university qualifications reach 19.1%, which is 11 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with a trade and resources-oriented workforce.
Is Darlington safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Darlington in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, IRSD decile 4 places the suburb in the lower-middle range nationally on relative disadvantage, below the state median. The population is small at 378 residents, and 4.7% need daily assistance, modest for a community of this size.
Is Darlington good for property investment?
Prices rose 6.8% in one year from $1,445,000 to $1,543,000, and the 1.8% vacancy rate signals tight rental supply. However, weekly rent of $333 against a $1,527,500 median implies a gross yield well below 2%, so returns depend on capital growth. Net internal outflow of 113 per year is a headwind; overseas migration of 84 per year partially offsets it.
How is Darlington's population changing?
The broader area population declined slightly from 17,550 in 2023 to 17,396 in 2025, though medium forecasts project growth to 18,050 by 2031. The suburb's own 10-year rise is 5.5%. The age profile is shifting older, with the senior share up 3.7 points over the decade, and gentrification scores at 0, classified as not gentrifying.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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