NSW 2326 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Weston

Nearly 96% of Weston's dwellings are separate houses, placing it among NSW's most detached-dominant suburbs, while household income sits at the 34th percentile nationally. The suburb scores decile 9 on both IRSAD and IRSD, meaning it ranks in the top 10% for advantage nationally despite below-median incomes, because low housing costs and strong ownership rates (33.5% outright, 41.3% mortgaged) contribute to that advantage profile. Population grew 22.9% over the decade, and the median house price reached $587,500 in 2024-2025, well below the NSW state median, making it one of the more affordable entry points in the Hunter region.

Weston urban fabric map

Population

4,088

Median Age

37.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,343/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

38

Median House

$588K

2024-2025 (PSI derived)

5.45 km²· 750.4 people/km²· Family income $1,564/wk

The median house price of $587,500 reflects a market below most NSW coastal benchmarks, with prices rising from $570,000 in 2024 to $635,000 in 2025, an 11.4% gain in one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 95.9% of stock, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 52.8% and four-plus bedrooms at 27.1%, so buyers have genuine choice across family-sized configurations. Outright ownership at 33.5% signals a substantial share of long-held, debt-free properties. The low apartment fraction (0.7%) means the detached house market carries essentially all the price action.

For Buyers

The median house price of $587,500 reflects a market below most NSW coastal benchmarks, with prices rising from $570,000 in 2024 to $635,000 in 2025, an 11.4% gain in one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 95.9% of stock, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 52.8% and four-plus bedrooms at 27.1%, so buyers have genuine choice across family-sized configurations. Outright ownership at 33.5% signals a substantial share of long-held, debt-free properties. The low apartment fraction (0.7%) means the detached house market carries essentially all the price action.

For Investors

Renter share at 25.2% is moderate, and weekly rent of $320 against a $587,500 median implies a gross yield around 2.8%, higher than most Sydney markets but still below typical cash-flow thresholds. Vacancy sits at 4.7%, elevated compared to a balanced market benchmark of around 3%, which limits landlord pricing power in the near term. Development activity is steady at 38 applications in the past 12 months, mostly residential alterations and complying development, consistent with an established suburb adding extensions rather than new supply. Overseas migration drives net population gain (76 arrivals annually vs. internal outflow of 34), a positive demand signal that supports rents. Rent growth of 16.3% over the measured period shows the rental market has moved, even if absolute yields remain modest.

Development Activity

Total DAs

238

Last 12 Months

38

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

-9.5%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Garage / Carport / Shed
18
Renovation / Extension
18
Swimming Pool / Spa
12
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
9
Commercial / Industrial
8
New Dwelling
4
Demolition
3
Subdivision
3

Schools in Weston iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Weston Public School

ICSEA 882 Primary Government

K-6 · 270 students

Demographics

The median age of 37 is 3 years below the national average, reflecting a younger workforce and family profile typical of mortgage-belt suburbs. Overseas-born residents are just 5.2% of the population, which is 16.4 percentage points below the national figure, confirming the Anglo-Celtic heritage concentration: English ancestry leads (1,806), followed by Scottish (416) and Irish (363). University qualifications reach 10.2%, which is 19.9 points below the national figure, and the employment structure reflects this, with labourers (257 workers), community and personal service (217) and clerical and administrative roles (206) as the top three occupations. Average household size of 2.6 is marginally above the national figure, consistent with the couples-with-children family model that dominates here.

Age Distribution

0-14
21.5%
15-24
12.6%
25-44
25.4%
45-64
24.4%
65+
16.2%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
2.4%
2 bed
17.7%
3 bed
52.8%
4+ bed
27.1%

Dwelling Structure

95.9%

Houses

3.2%

Townhouse

0.7%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 33.5% Mortgage 41.3% Rent 25.2%

Tenure divides strongly toward ownership: 33.5% own outright and 41.3% carry a mortgage, leaving only 25.2% renting. The near-absence of apartments (0.7%) means Weston is essentially a market for detached houses, with three-bedroom homes at 52.8% and four-plus at 27.1% of all dwellings. Prices rose from $570,000 to $635,000 between 2024 and 2025, an 11.4% one-year increase. Rent-to-income at 23.8% sits comfortably below the 30% stress level. Housing stress is low overall: mortgage repayments of $1,517 per month compare favourably against household weekly income of $1,343, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.1%. The combination of high ownership and low apartment share signals a stable, owner-occupier-led market rather than an investor-traded one.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,517

Rent / wk

$320

HH Size

2.6

Personal Income / wk

$635

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

4.7%

Unoccupied

71

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

23.8%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

26.1%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
1,806
Scottish
416
Irish
363
Ancestry NS
247
German
154
Other
130

Household Composition

24.4%

Couples, no children

3,317

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 21% of the local workforce (197 workers), followed by Construction at 10.2% (96) and Manufacturing at 8% (75). Mining employs 7.9% (74 workers), reflecting proximity to Hunter Valley coalfields, and Education accounts for 7.4% (69). The occupation mix is blue-collar and service-oriented, which aligns with the 10.2% university qualification rate, well below national. The unemployment rate is 8.2%, above the national average, and the participation rate of 51.1% is low, partly because 1,243 residents are not in the labour force. SEIFA decile 9 on IRSD and IRSAD indicates advantage despite these employment pressures, because low housing costs and high outright ownership keep relative disadvantage low. Real income growth of 12.8% over the decade shows wages have moved, but the income distribution (34th household income percentile nationally) reflects an economy reliant on essential-service and trade employment rather than professional sectors.

Unemployment

2.5%

Labour Force

2,100

Unemployed

53

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
9
Disadvantage
9
Economic resources
8
Education & occupation
10

Full-time

63.0%

Part-time

28.8%

Participation

51.1%

Employed

1,505

Occupations

Labourers 257
Community/Personal 217
Clerical/Admin 206
Machinery/Drivers 195
Sales 167
Professionals 145
Managers 120

Top Industries

Healthcare 21.0%
Construction 10.2%
Manufacturing 8.0%
Mining 7.9%
Education 7.4%

University

10.2%

Postgraduate

1.5%

Born Overseas

5.2%

Dwellings

1,457

Transport to Work

Car dependency is extremely high: 92.8% of residents drive to work, compared to 58-65% in metropolitan areas, while only 0.4% use public transport. This reflects the regional location rather than a service gap. The suburb scores decile 10 on IEO (education and occupation index) and decile 8 on IER (economic resources), the highest education-occupation ranking nationally, though that score is partly driven by the low absolute population in the suburb creating some index sensitivity. IRSAD decile 9 means Weston sits in the top 10% for relative advantage nationally. Housing stress is absent: rent-to-income at 23.8% and mortgage-to-income at 26.1% are both below stress thresholds. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in the dataset, so families rely on nearby catchments, consistent with a low-density, 5.45 km2 suburb at 750 residents per km2. Volunteering at 9.1% and need-for-assistance at 8.7% (333 people) indicate a community with a meaningful share of residents requiring support.

Drive

92.8%

Public Transport

0.4%

Walk / Cycle

1.5%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+0.97%/yr

(+39 people/yr)

Established

Annual population growth runs at 0.97%, adding roughly 39 people per year, with the medium forecast pointing to 4,285 residents by 2031 compared to 4,088 today. The 10-year population increase of 22.9% is substantial and above many comparable Hunter towns. Growth is driven almost entirely by overseas migration (net 76 per year), which more than offsets net internal outflow of 34. The gentrification score of 7 marks the suburb as not gentrifying in the traditional sense, though population growth of more than 20% since 2011 is a structural signal of demand. Affordability improved from 40.3% in 2011 to 33.8% in 2021, a positive trend for existing owners. The trajectory is classified as mixed, with young-adult share up 1.8 points but working-age share down 2.7 points over the decade.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+76

Net Internal / yr

-34

7

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Population +20% since 2011

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Weston compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 13%
Household Income
Bottom 34%
Rent Level
Top 34%
Apartments
Bottom 15%
Renters
Top 37%
Uni Educated
Bottom 6%
Public Transport
Bottom 3%
Born Overseas
Bottom 7%
Density
Top 17%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Weston a good suburb to live in?

Weston scores decile 9 on IRSAD and IRSD, placing it in the top 10% for advantage nationally. Housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 26.1% and rent-to-income at 23.8%, both below stress thresholds. The trade-off is high car dependency (92.8% drive to work) and a below-median household income at the 34th percentile nationally.

What is the median house price in Weston?

The median house price is $587,500 based on 2024-2025 data. Prices rose from $570,000 in 2024 to $635,000 in 2025, an 11.4% increase. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, and weekly rent is $320.

What schools are in Weston?

No schools are recorded inside the Weston boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers 5.45 km2 at a density of 750 residents per km2, so families typically use schools in surrounding areas. The local university qualification rate is 10.2%, which is 19.9 percentage points below the national figure.

Is Weston safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Weston in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, among the highest advantage tiers nationally. The unemployment rate of 8.2% is above average, which is a factor to weigh.

Is Weston good for property investment?

Weekly rent of $320 against a $587,500 median implies a gross yield around 2.8%, above most Sydney markets. However, the vacancy rate is 4.7%, above a balanced-market level, which limits rent growth. Overseas migration adds 76 residents net per year, supporting demand, and rent has grown 16.3% over the measured period.

How is Weston's population changing?

Population grew 22.9% over the decade to 4,088 residents, and grows at 0.97% annually, adding about 39 people per year. The medium forecast puts the population at 4,285 by 2031. Overseas migration (net 76 per year) is the primary driver, offsetting internal outflow of 34 per year.

How much development is happening in Weston?

There were 38 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent applications include carports, residential alterations and shed constructions, consistent with an established suburb where owners are extending and upgrading rather than building new. This level of activity signals stable demand rather than speculative supply growth.

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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