Pelaw Main
With 90.1% of dwellings being separate houses and household income sitting at just the 23rd percentile nationally, Pelaw Main is a low-density, working-class suburb in the Hunter Valley where affordability and space come together. Population is 1,080 across 9.27 km2, giving a density of 116.5 per km2, well below most NSW suburban averages. Median age of 39 is close to the national figure, and 81.8% of residents stayed put between census periods, pointing to a stable, settled community rather than a transient one.
Population
1,080
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,174/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
10
Median House
$672K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $672,500 rose 8.3% from $660,000 in 2024 to $715,000 in 2025, outpacing many regional NSW markets over the same period. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,447, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 90.1% of stock, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 53.4% and four-plus bedroom homes at 22.2%. Apartments account for only 5.7%, so buyers seeking a detached home have strong supply options. Outright ownership and mortgaged households are evenly split at 35.3% each, suggesting an established base of long-term owners alongside newer buyers.
For Buyers
The median house price of $672,500 rose 8.3% from $660,000 in 2024 to $715,000 in 2025, outpacing many regional NSW markets over the same period. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,447, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 90.1% of stock, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 53.4% and four-plus bedroom homes at 22.2%. Apartments account for only 5.7%, so buyers seeking a detached home have strong supply options. Outright ownership and mortgaged households are evenly split at 35.3% each, suggesting an established base of long-term owners alongside newer buyers.
For Investors
Renters make up 29.4% of the market and weekly rent is $310, giving a gross yield of approximately 2.4% against the $672,500 median. The vacancy rate of 6.5% is elevated compared to tighter metro markets, signalling moderate supply pressure. Development activity recorded 10 applications in the past 12 months, including dual-occupancy and secondary dwelling proposals, indicating some small-scale infill is underway. Rent-to-income at 26.4% is below the 30% stress threshold, so tenants can sustain current rents without acute pressure. The 8.3% price growth over the 2024-2025 period is a positive signal, though the low income base at the 23rd percentile nationally limits how far rents can be pushed.
Development Activity
Total DAs
49
Last 12 Months
10
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Pelaw Main iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Pelaw Main Public School
K-6 · 115 students
Demographics
The population of 1,080 skews Anglo-Celtic, with English (487), Scottish (130) and Irish (123) as the top ancestries. Overseas-born residents at 5.4% are 16.2 percentage points below the national figure, making this one of the more locally-born communities in NSW. University qualifications are held by 13.7% of residents, which is 16.4 points below the national rate, consistent with a blue-collar employment profile. Average household size is 2.4, close to the national average. Couples with children (290 families) outnumber couples without children (225), and median age is 39, one year below the national figure, suggesting a working-age and family-oriented population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.1%
Houses
4.2%
Townhouse
5.7%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 90.1%, with semi-detached at 4.2% and apartments at 5.7%. Three-bedroom homes account for 53.4% of dwellings, followed by four-plus bedroom at 22.2% and two-bedroom at 22.2%. Tenure splits fairly evenly: 35.3% own outright, 35.3% carry a mortgage and 29.4% rent. The median house price rose from $660,000 in 2024 to $715,000 in 2025, an 8.3% gain. Mortgage repayments average $1,447 per month, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.5% is below common stress benchmarks, which is notable given household income sits at just the 23rd percentile nationally. This combination of modest price and manageable repayments sets Pelaw Main apart from many higher-income Hunter suburbs.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,447
Rent / wk
$310
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$626
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.5%
Unoccupied
30
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.1%
Couples, no children
861
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local employment mix at 20.2%, followed by Construction at 12.8% and Manufacturing at 12.1%, with Education at 8.6% and Retail at 8.2%. By occupation, Community and Personal Services workers are most numerous (76), followed by Labourers (72) and Machinery and Drivers (55), reflecting the blue-collar character of the area. The full-time employment rate is 62.1% and the unemployment rate of 7.9% is above typical national benchmarks. Participation rate of 49.5% is low, with 380 residents not in the labour force, partly because the area has a higher than average proportion of residents needing daily assistance at 9.6%. Household weekly income of $1,174 places Pelaw Main at the 23rd percentile nationally, lower than most NSW Hunter Valley peers.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.1%
Part-time
30.0%
Participation
49.5%
Employed
398
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.7%
Postgraduate
2.1%
Born Overseas
5.4%
Dwellings
424
Transport to Work
Car dependence is very high at 91.8% of workers driving, with only 1.0% using public transport, consistent with a regional suburb without heavy rail access. Walkability and cycling are minimal at 1.3%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in the available data, so families rely on nearby centres. Crime data is not available for Pelaw Main in this dataset. The rent-to-income ratio of 26.4% and mortgage-to-income of 28.5% both sit below stress thresholds, indicating housing costs are broadly manageable for the local income base. Volunteering participation of 8.6% and 9.6% of residents needing daily assistance are the key welfare signals; the latter is above the national average, pointing to a higher care-needs population than many comparable regional suburbs.
Drive
91.8%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Pelaw Main compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pelaw Main a good suburb to live in?
Pelaw Main offers affordable housing with a $672,500 median house price and mortgage repayments averaging $1,447 per month, keeping the mortgage-to-income ratio at 28.5%. The suburb is low-density at 116.5 people per km2 with 90.1% detached houses. The main trade-offs are high car dependence at 91.8% and household income at the 23rd percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Pelaw Main?
The median house price is $672,500 based on 2024-2025 data, up 8.3% from $660,000 in 2024 to $715,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $310 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $1,447, keeping the mortgage-to-income ratio at 28.5%, below the common 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Pelaw Main?
No schools are recorded within the Pelaw Main suburb boundary in the available dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 13.7%, which is 16.4 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the broader blue-collar character of the area.
Is Pelaw Main safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Pelaw Main in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, 81.8% of residents stayed between census periods, suggesting a stable community with low churn. The suburb's population of 1,080 is spread across 9.27 km2, which is a low-density profile at 116.5 people per km2.
Is Pelaw Main good for property investment?
The 8.3% price growth from $660,000 to $715,000 over 2024-2025 is a positive short-term signal. Renters make up 29.4% of households paying $310 per week, implying a gross yield around 2.4%. The 6.5% vacancy rate is elevated compared to tighter metro markets, and the income base at the 23rd percentile nationally limits rental growth potential.
How is Pelaw Main's population changing?
Pelaw Main has a population of 1,080 with a stable, low-turnover character: 81.8% of residents stayed between census periods, giving a turnover rate of just 18.2%. The median age of 39 is 1 year below the national figure, and couples with children (290 families) outnumber couples without children (225), indicating a family-oriented demographic.
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.
Explore Pelaw Main on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map