Ellalong
With 99.3% of dwellings being separate houses and a median age of 35, which is 5 years below the national figure, Ellalong reads as a young, family-oriented pocket of the Hunter Valley. The population of 1,351 is spread across 35.41 square kilometres, giving a density of 38.1 residents per km2, far below state averages. Household income sits at the 59.5th percentile nationally, reflecting a working-class employment base dominated by healthcare, construction and mining rather than professional services. Average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 above the national figure, consistent with the large share of 4-plus bedroom homes.
Population
1,351
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,697/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
17
Median House
$722K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $722,000 sits below many Hunter Valley counterparts, and prices moved from $690,000 in 2024 to $767,500 in 2025, an 11.2% gain over one year. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.3%, so buyers face a straightforward detached market with very little apartment competition. Larger homes dominate: 50.6% have 4 or more bedrooms and 35% have 3 bedrooms, making the suburb more family-scale than most. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,798, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 24.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability advantage compared to many Sydney fringe markets is one reason the 51.5% mortgage-holder rate is high relative to the 34.8% who own outright.
For Buyers
The median house price of $722,000 sits below many Hunter Valley counterparts, and prices moved from $690,000 in 2024 to $767,500 in 2025, an 11.2% gain over one year. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.3%, so buyers face a straightforward detached market with very little apartment competition. Larger homes dominate: 50.6% have 4 or more bedrooms and 35% have 3 bedrooms, making the suburb more family-scale than most. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,798, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 24.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability advantage compared to many Sydney fringe markets is one reason the 51.5% mortgage-holder rate is high relative to the 34.8% who own outright.
For Investors
The rental yield picture is moderate: weekly rent of $400 against a $722,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.9%, which is lower than many regional NSW towns. The vacancy rate of 6.4% is elevated and signals soft rental demand, meaning investors should expect some void periods. Only 13.7% of residents rent, well below state averages, reflecting the strong owner-occupier culture in this detached-house suburb. Development activity is modest, with 15 applications in the past 12 months, mostly dwelling alterations and new sheds rather than subdivision. The 11.2% price gain over 2024 to 2025 outpaced many markets, but the thin rental base and high vacancy rate make yield-focused investment harder to justify without a longer capital growth thesis.
Development Activity
Total DAs
104
Last 12 Months
17
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+21.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ellalong iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Ellalong Public School
K-6 · 114 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure, and the family profile is clear: 40.6% of households are couples with children and average household size is 3.0, which is 0.5 above national. The overseas-born share of 7.7% sits 13.9 percentage points below the national average, and the ancestry base is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (613), Scottish (186) and Irish (129) residents. University qualifications reach only 14.3%, which is 15.8 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with a trades and services workforce rather than a professional one. The mobility rate is low, with 82.8% of residents having stayed in the area, pointing to established community roots rather than high turnover.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.3%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
0.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupancy is the dominant tenure: 34.8% own outright and 51.5% carry a mortgage, together covering 86.3% of households, well above national norms. Renters at 13.7% are a small minority compared to state averages. The stock is almost exclusively detached houses at 99.3%, with virtually no apartments or semi-detached dwellings. The bedroom profile skews large: 50.6% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, and 35% have 3 bedrooms, so the suburb caters to families rather than singles or couples. Prices rose from $690,000 to $767,500 between 2024 and 2025, an 11.2% increase. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.5% and rent-to-income ratio of 23.6% both remain below the 30% stress threshold, giving residents meaningful financial headroom compared to many metropolitan markets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,798
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$723
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.4%
Unoccupied
30
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.1%
Couples, no children
1,169
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest industry at 20.1% of employed residents (73 workers), followed by Construction at 11.8% (43), Education at 9.6% (35) and Mining at 9.3% (34). The mining share is notable given the Hunter Valley coal heritage and explains the machinery operators and labourers occupations that each contribute meaningfully to the workforce. By occupation, Community and Personal Service leads with 102 workers, followed by Machinery Operators and Drivers (77), Labourers (71) and Professionals (66). The participation rate is 56.3%, below national levels, and the unemployment rate of 8.1% is higher than state averages, suggesting the local labour market is tighter and more variable than major urban centres. Full-time employment accounts for 55.9% of those employed.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.9%
Part-time
36.0%
Participation
56.3%
Employed
535
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.3%
Postgraduate
2.7%
Born Overseas
7.7%
Dwellings
435
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total: 93.6% of residents drive to work, which is substantially above national averages, and walking or cycling accounts for just 0.7%. This reflects the rural-residential character of a suburb spanning 35.41 square kilometres with low density. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families travel to nearby centres such as Cessnock for schooling. Crime statistics are not available for Ellalong in this dataset. The need-assistance rate of 7.1% (91 residents) is moderate, and the housing-stress ratios are healthy: rent-to-income at 23.6% and mortgage-to-income at 24.5% both sit below the 30% stress benchmark. The volunteering rate of 11.0% indicates reasonable community engagement for a small rural suburb.
Drive
93.6%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
0.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ellalong compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ellalong a good suburb to live in?
Ellalong suits families who want a large detached house in a low-density setting. With 99.3% separate houses, a median age of 35 years (5 below the national figure) and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.5%, day-to-day housing costs are manageable. The trade-offs are near-total car dependence (93.6% drive) and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Ellalong?
The median house price is $722,000. Prices rose 11.2% from $690,000 in 2024 to $767,500 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $400 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,798, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.5%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Ellalong?
No schools are recorded inside the Ellalong boundary in this dataset. The suburb's 1,351 residents rely on schools in neighbouring Cessnock district centres. University qualification rates are 14.3%, which is 15.8 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a trades-oriented workforce.
Is Ellalong safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Ellalong in this dataset. As indirect indicators, housing stress ratios are healthy (mortgage-to-income 24.5%, rent-to-income 23.6%), and 82.8% of residents have stayed in the area, suggesting a stable community rather than one experiencing high turnover or economic distress.
Is Ellalong good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $400 against a $722,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.9%, which is lower than many regional NSW markets. The vacancy rate of 6.4% is elevated compared to tighter rental markets. The 11.2% price gain from 2024 to 2025 is strong, but the thin rental base (only 13.7% of residents rent) makes yield-focused investing harder to sustain.
How is Ellalong's population changing?
Ellalong has a population of 1,351 across 35.41 square kilometres. Detailed forecast data is not available for this suburb, but turnover is low at 17.2%, with 82.8% of residents remaining in the area. The young median age of 35 and high share of families suggest stable rather than declining demand.
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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