West Bathurst
Almost 95% of dwellings in West Bathurst are separate houses on a 2.89 km2 footprint, making it one of the most detached-dominant pockets in the Bathurst region. With a median house price of $560,000 and household income in the 30.8th percentile nationally, the suburb occupies a distinct position: relatively affordable ownership in a regional city, but with a wage base below the national average. The median age of 36 sits 4 years below the national figure, pointing to a younger resident profile than the Australian norm. Healthcare and Education together account for 38% of local employment, anchoring the suburb to Bathurst's public-sector workforce.
Population
3,634
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,299/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Median House
$560K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $560,000 sits below Sydney metro benchmarks, and the one-year price history shows growth from $520,200 in 2024 to $570,000 in 2025, a 9.6% rise. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,443, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, which gives buyers more headroom than many comparable regional markets. Separate houses make up 94.8% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes the dominant type at 55.4% and 4-plus bedroom dwellings accounting for 28.1%. Apartments represent only 0.6% of supply, so buyers seeking detached housing will find deep choice relative to demand. Outright owners at 32.3% signal a mature, long-held ownership base rather than a suburb driven by speculative turnover.
For Buyers
The median house price of $560,000 sits below Sydney metro benchmarks, and the one-year price history shows growth from $520,200 in 2024 to $570,000 in 2025, a 9.6% rise. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,443, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, which gives buyers more headroom than many comparable regional markets. Separate houses make up 94.8% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes the dominant type at 55.4% and 4-plus bedroom dwellings accounting for 28.1%. Apartments represent only 0.6% of supply, so buyers seeking detached housing will find deep choice relative to demand. Outright owners at 32.3% signal a mature, long-held ownership base rather than a suburb driven by speculative turnover.
For Investors
The renter share of 39.1% provides a substantial tenant pool, with weekly rent at $310. Against the $560,000 median, that implies a gross yield near 2.9%, low compared to many regional NSW towns but consistent with a suburb where income levels are at the 30.8th percentile nationally. The vacancy rate of 9.1% is elevated and warrants attention before committing capital, as it suggests supply may exceed active demand at current rent levels. Development activity registered 18 applications in the past 12 months, including subdivision and group home proposals, which signals some infill momentum. The 9.6% annual price growth from 2024 to 2025 offers a capital growth signal, though the high vacancy rate tempers the rental income outlook in the near term.
Development Activity
Total DAs
115
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+11.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4.0 years below the national figure, reflecting a comparatively younger population than most Australian suburbs. Overseas-born residents account for just 9.2% of the population, which is 12.4 percentage points below the national average, consistent with the suburb's Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile: English (1,533), Irish (520) and Scottish (356) are the top three ancestries. University qualifications reach 24.7% of residents, which is 5.4 percentage points below the national rate, broadly aligning with a workforce concentrated in community services and trades rather than knowledge-economy roles. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below the national norm, and couples with children make up 877 of the 2,595 families recorded.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.8%
Houses
4.6%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure divides into 32.3% outright owners, 28.6% with a mortgage and 39.1% renters, with the renter share higher than the national average. The stock is overwhelmingly detached: 94.8% separate houses, 4.6% semi-detached, and just 0.6% apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 55.4%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 28.1%, which reflects a family-oriented dwelling mix typical of regional NSW towns. The median house price moved from $520,200 in 2024 to $570,000 in 2025, a 9.6% gain over one year. Monthly mortgage costs of $1,443 sit at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.7%, while rent-to-income at 23.9% also remains below the 30% stress level, making the suburb accessible by both tenure types compared to many metropolitan markets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,443
Rent / wk
$310
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$729
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.1%
Unoccupied
147
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.9%
Couples, no children
2,595
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 21.6% (215 workers), followed by Education at 16.4% (163 workers) and Public Administration at 9.1% (91 workers), together representing nearly half the local workforce. Construction accounts for 8.4% and Retail 7.5%, adding a trade-services layer beneath the public-sector base. By occupation, Professionals (284) and Community/Personal workers (275) lead, with Labourers close behind at 227, which indicates a mixed white-collar and blue-collar workforce. The unemployment rate is 6.9%, above the national average, and full-time employment sits at 62.2%. Household income at the 30.8th percentile nationally reflects the concentration in public-sector and community roles rather than high-margin private-sector employment.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.2%
Part-time
30.9%
Participation
55.3%
Employed
1,506
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.7%
Postgraduate
5.7%
Born Overseas
9.2%
Dwellings
1,460
Transport to Work
West Bathurst is car-dependent, with 86.8% of residents driving to work, well above the national average for active or public transport use. However, 3.8% walk or cycle, a small but non-trivial active transport share for a regional suburb of this density. The volunteering rate of 14.6% reflects a degree of community participation that is broadly in line with comparable regional NSW towns. Around 7.7% of residents (260 people) require daily assistance, slightly higher than lower-disadvantage areas, which connects to the suburb's income position at the 30.8th percentile nationally. No school records appear within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on educational institutions in neighbouring parts of Bathurst. Crime statistics are not available for this suburb in the current dataset.
Drive
86.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
3.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How West Bathurst compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Bathurst a good suburb to live in?
West Bathurst suits buyers and renters seeking affordable, detached housing in a regional city setting. The median house price of $560,000 is accessible compared to metropolitan NSW, mortgage-to-income sits at 25.7% (below the 30% stress level), and the median age of 36 is 4 years below national, reflecting a younger community. The main trade-offs are a household income base at the 30.8th percentile nationally and a 6.9% unemployment rate.
What is the median house price in West Bathurst?
The median house price is $560,000 based on the latest PSI-derived figures. Prices rose 9.6% from $520,200 in 2024 to $570,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $310 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,443, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.7%.
What schools are in West Bathurst?
No schools are recorded within the West Bathurst suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on educational institutions across the broader Bathurst area. About 24.7% of local residents hold university qualifications, which is 5.4 percentage points below the national average.
Is West Bathurst safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for West Bathurst in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the suburb's household income sits at the 30.8th percentile nationally and 7.7% of residents (260 people) require daily assistance, metrics that are broadly consistent with a mid-range regional area rather than a high-disadvantage postcode.
Is West Bathurst good for property investment?
The 9.6% price growth from 2024 to 2025 and a 39.1% renter share are positive signals. Weekly rent of $310 against a $560,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.9%, low compared to many regional towns. The 9.1% vacancy rate is elevated and suggests supply exceeds active demand at current rents, which is the key risk factor for investors to monitor before purchasing.
How is West Bathurst's population changing?
West Bathurst has a population of 3,634 at a density of 1,255 people per km2. Mobility data shows 27.4% of residents changed address in the five years to the Census, with 72.6% staying in place, indicating a stable base. The median age of 36 is 4 years below the national figure, suggesting the suburb attracts younger households relative to the national average.
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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