North Rothbury
With a median age of 30, North Rothbury ranks 10 years younger than the national median, making it one of the youngest-skewing suburbs in the Hunter Valley. Household income sits in the 83.8th percentile nationally, well above average despite a median house price of $360,000 that is far below most NSW markets. Mining drives 17.2% of employment, which explains both the income strength and the trade-worker occupational profile. The suburb covers 17.58 km2 and houses 2,502 residents, with 96.5% of dwellings being separate houses and 69.6% having four or more bedrooms, a configuration oriented toward families rather than singles or retirees.
Population
2,502
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,206/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
269
Median House
$360K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At $360,000 the median house price is accessible compared to broader NSW, and mortgage-to-income sits at 20.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Prices rose from $350,000 in 2024 to $365,000 in 2025, a 4.3% annual gain. The housing stock almost entirely consists of separate houses at 96.5%, with 69.6% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, so buyers get genuine family-sized homes at a price that is a fraction of metropolitan equivalents. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, which is manageable given household income in the 83.8th percentile nationally. Outright ownership stands at only 15.6% because 48.0% carry mortgages, indicating that most owner-occupiers are relatively recent buyers still paying off their homes.
For Buyers
At $360,000 the median house price is accessible compared to broader NSW, and mortgage-to-income sits at 20.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Prices rose from $350,000 in 2024 to $365,000 in 2025, a 4.3% annual gain. The housing stock almost entirely consists of separate houses at 96.5%, with 69.6% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, so buyers get genuine family-sized homes at a price that is a fraction of metropolitan equivalents. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, which is manageable given household income in the 83.8th percentile nationally. Outright ownership stands at only 15.6% because 48.0% carry mortgages, indicating that most owner-occupiers are relatively recent buyers still paying off their homes.
For Investors
Renters account for 36.4% of households and weekly rent averages $450, giving an indicative gross yield near 6.5% against the $360,000 median, well above typical metro benchmarks. Rent-to-income at 20.4% sits below stress levels for tenants, suggesting rent can absorb moderate increases. The vacancy rate of 5.9% is elevated and warrants caution; it signals the rental pool is not under immediate pressure. Development activity is high at 261 applications in the past 12 months, including multi-dwelling housing and secondary dwellings, pointing to active supply growth. Price growth of 4.3% over the 2024-2025 period supports the investment case, and the young median age of 30 implies ongoing household formation demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1,357
Last 12 Months
269
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-7.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 30 is 10 years below the national figure, an unusually large gap that reflects the suburb's role as a destination for young working families. Overseas-born residents make up only 10.1%, which is 11.5 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,070), Irish (272), Scottish (268) and German (125) are the top groups. University qualification rates reach 21.6%, which is 8.5 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with the blue-collar and trades-oriented workforce. Average household size is 2.9, marginally above the national figure by 0.4 persons. Couples with children make up the dominant family type at 1,096 out of 2,164 total families, reinforcing the suburb's family formation character.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.5%
Houses
2.6%
Townhouse
0.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses dominate at 96.5%, with apartments accounting for just 0.9% and semi-detached homes 2.6%, so the suburb offers almost nothing for buyers seeking medium-density product. Four-plus bedroom dwellings represent 69.6% of stock, three-bedroom a further 24.7%, and two-bedroom only 5.1%. Tenure splits to 48.0% mortgaged, 36.4% renting and 15.6% owned outright. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.9% and rent-to-income of 20.4% are both below stress thresholds, indicating the current price and rent levels are broadly affordable relative to local incomes in the 83.8th percentile nationally. The 4.3% price growth from $350,000 in 2024 to $365,000 in 2025 is moderate and suggests a market finding equilibrium rather than speculative acceleration.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,025
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.9%
Unoccupied
54
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.3%
Couples, no children
2,164
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is the dominant employer at 17.2% of workers (160 people), followed by Healthcare at 14.2% (132), Construction at 7.9% (74), and Manufacturing and Education each at 7.4% (69 workers each). By occupation, Professionals lead at 206 workers, closely followed by Machinery and Drivers at 202, reflecting the dual presence of mine-site professionals and trade operators. The full-time employment rate is 71.4% and unemployment is low at 4.2%, with a participation rate of 67.6%. These figures put North Rothbury above the national average for employment stability, driven by the mining sector's demand for skilled labour. The income premium, with household income in the 83.8th percentile nationally, is a direct function of mining and trades wages that exceed the broader NSW average.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
71.4%
Part-time
24.4%
Participation
67.6%
Employed
1,171
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.6%
Postgraduate
2.9%
Born Overseas
10.1%
Dwellings
855
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total at 95.0% of commuters driving, with only 0.3% walking or cycling, which reflects the suburban layout and limited public transit infrastructure across the Hunter's outer areas. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on institutions in nearby centres. The vacancy rate of 5.9% is somewhat elevated compared to tighter rental markets, but rent-to-income at 20.4% remains well below the national stress benchmark. Volunteering reaches 11.5% of residents and 4.0% need daily assistance, both moderate figures consistent with the young, working-age profile. Housing stress indicators are low on both the mortgage and rent measures, which makes North Rothbury more livable for cost-of-living reasons than many comparable NSW locations.
Drive
95.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
0.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How North Rothbury compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Rothbury a good suburb to live in?
North Rothbury offers affordable housing with a $360,000 median house price and household income in the 83.8th percentile nationally. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 20.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold. The trade-off is near-total car dependency at 95.0% and no recorded schools within the suburb boundary, requiring families to travel to nearby centres.
What is the median house price in North Rothbury?
The median house price is $360,000, based on data covering 2024-2025. Prices rose from $350,000 in 2024 to $365,000 in 2025, a 4.3% gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and rent averages $450 per week.
What schools are in North Rothbury?
No schools are recorded within the North Rothbury boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in nearby Hunter Valley towns. The suburb's university qualification rate of 21.6% sits 8.5 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the trades and mining workforce profile.
Is North Rothbury safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for North Rothbury in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the unemployment rate is low at 4.2%, housing stress measures are below national thresholds on both mortgage (20.9%) and rent (20.4%) metrics, and only 4.0% of residents need daily assistance, all consistent with a stable, low-disadvantage community.
Is North Rothbury good for property investment?
At $360,000 median with $450 weekly rent, the indicative gross yield is near 6.5%, above typical metro benchmarks. Renters make up 36.4% of households, providing a solid tenant pool. However, the vacancy rate of 5.9% is elevated, and 261 development applications over 12 months signal active new supply that could moderate rents.
How is North Rothbury's population changing?
North Rothbury has a median age of 30, which is 10 years below the national figure, indicating a young and growing household base. The 39.5% resident turnover rate shows strong in-migration, and 48.0% of dwellings carry a mortgage, consistent with an active buyer market. Development at 261 applications in 12 months points to continuing physical expansion.
How much development is happening in North Rothbury?
There were 261 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including multi-dwelling housing, secondary dwellings and dwelling houses. This is high activity for a suburb of 2,502 residents, suggesting the area is still in a growth phase. Recent applications include Complying Development Certificates for dwelling houses alongside traditional DAs.
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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