Bellbird Heights vs Cessnock

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Bellbird Heights: a median of $800,000, against $700,000 in Cessnock, and rent is higher there too.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Bellbird Heights carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 89/100)
  • Cessnock has more parks and reserves (22 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Cessnock

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($700,000 vs $800,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Cessnock

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 19%)
  • has cheaper rent ($320/wk vs $368/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Cessnock

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 35/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (117 min vs 123 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (152.3 km vs 155.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Cessnock

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (11 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (16% vs 5%)
  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 35/100)
  • But Bellbird Heights carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 89/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Cessnock

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (7.4% vs 2.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Bellbird Heights and Cessnock drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Walkability 35 / 88
Bellbird Heights — Walkability: 35/100 Cessnock — Walkability: 88/100
Safety 26 / 11
Bellbird Heights — Safety: 26/100 Cessnock — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 100 / 42
Bellbird Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100 Cessnock — Low fire risk: 42/100

Demographics

Cessnock has more residents (16,300 vs 805); Bellbird Heights has higher household incomes ($77,324 vs $61,984).

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Population 805 16,300
+1925% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.2% +7.4%
Median age 40
same for both
Median household income $77,324/yr
+20% vs other
 $61,984/yr
Median weekly rent $368/wk
+13% vs other
 $320/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
0-4 7.0% / 5.7%
Bellbird Heights — 0-4: 7.0% Cessnock — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 12.9% / 11.4%
Bellbird Heights — 5-14: 12.9% Cessnock — 5-14: 11.4%
15-19 6.5% / 5.4%
Bellbird Heights — 15-19: 6.5% Cessnock — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 5.1% / 6.3%
Bellbird Heights — 20-24: 5.1% Cessnock — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 12.7% / 14.3%
Bellbird Heights — 25-34: 12.7% Cessnock — 25-34: 14.3%
35-44 12.0% / 12.7%
Bellbird Heights — 35-44: 12.0% Cessnock — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 11.7% / 11.7%
Bellbird Heights — 45-54: 11.7% Cessnock — 45-54: 11.7%
55-64 13.3% / 11.3%
Bellbird Heights — 55-64: 13.3% Cessnock — 55-64: 11.3%
65-74 10.9% / 11.0%
Bellbird Heights — 65-74: 10.9% Cessnock — 65-74: 11.0%
75-84 6.5% / 6.6%
Bellbird Heights — 75-84: 6.5% Cessnock — 75-84: 6.6%
85+ 1.9% / 3.5%
Bellbird Heights — 85+: 1.9% Cessnock — 85+: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bellbird Heights 32.6% lone person
Bellbird Heights — Lone Person: 32.6% Bellbird Heights — Couple Families: 41.2% Bellbird Heights — One Parent Families: 23.2% Bellbird Heights — Group Household: 1.3% Bellbird Heights — Other Families: 1.7%
Cessnock 39.9% lone person
Cessnock — Lone Person: 39.9% Cessnock — Couple Families: 29.0% Cessnock — One Parent Families: 26.0% Cessnock — Group Household: 3.6% Cessnock — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bellbird Heights 18.6% renting
Bellbird Heights — Owned Outright: 42.2% Bellbird Heights — Mortgage: 39.2% Bellbird Heights — Renting: 18.6%
Cessnock 39.1% renting
Cessnock — Owned Outright: 32.1% Cessnock — Mortgage: 28.8% Cessnock — Renting: 39.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Certificate III & IV 21.7% / 17.4%
Bellbird Heights — Certificate III & IV: 21.7% Cessnock — Certificate III & IV: 17.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 4.8%
Bellbird Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Cessnock — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8%
Bachelor Degree 5.7% / 4.2%
Bellbird Heights — Bachelor Degree: 5.7% Cessnock — Bachelor Degree: 4.2%
Postgraduate Degree 1.9% / 0.8%
Bellbird Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9% Cessnock — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.6% / 0.7%
Bellbird Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6% Cessnock — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.7%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
England 1.5% / 1.8%
Bellbird Heights — England: 1.5% Cessnock — England: 1.8%
New Zealand 0.7% / 1.1%
Bellbird Heights — New Zealand: 0.7% Cessnock — New Zealand: 1.1%
Scotland 1.2% / 0.4%
Bellbird Heights — Scotland: 1.2% Cessnock — Scotland: 0.4%
Germany 0.6% / 0.2%
Bellbird Heights — Germany: 0.6% Cessnock — Germany: 0.2%
India 0.4% / 0.2%
Bellbird Heights — India: 0.4% Cessnock — India: 0.2%
Philippines — / 0.5%
Bellbird Heights — Philippines: not among its largest Cessnock — Philippines: 0.5%
Thailand — / 0.3%
Bellbird Heights — Thailand: not among its largest Cessnock — Thailand: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bellbird Heights 95.1% houses
Bellbird Heights — Houses: 95.1% Bellbird Heights — Townhouses: 2.0% Bellbird Heights — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
Cessnock 84.1% houses
Cessnock — Houses: 84.1% Cessnock — Townhouses: 13.0% Cessnock — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Median house price $800,000 $700,000
Median unit price — $525,000
Median land price — $500,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 12 sales
 22 days
from 214 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
3 bed $722K / $685K
Bellbird Heights — 3 bed: $722K (10 sales) Cessnock — 3 bed: $685K (233 sales)

10 vs 233 sales

4 bed $800K / $761K
Bellbird Heights — 4 bed: $800K (11 sales) Cessnock — 4 bed: $761K (101 sales)

11 vs 101 sales

Zoning mix

Cessnock has more rural and farming land (53% vs 0%).

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Residential 91% 24%
Rural and farming 0% 53%
Environmental 0% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 7%
Parks and recreation 3% 6%
Industrial 0% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
New dwellings approved 719
across Cessnock
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Houses — 4.1%
$600/wk on $755K
Units — 4.5%
$455/wk on $522K

Ranking within NSW

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
House price Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
Income Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 9% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 34% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 79% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 44% of NSW

Liveability

Cessnock is more walkable (88 vs 35); Bellbird Heights scores higher overall (38 vs 24).

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Grade C D
Score 38/100 24/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Cessnock carries more bushfire risk (58 vs 0); Cessnock carries more crime risk (89 vs 74).

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
58/100
Crime High
74/100
 High
89/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 4
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Bellbird Heights

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Cessnock

  • Cessnock East Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Cessnock West Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mount View High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Patrick's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 0 4
Parks & reserves 0 22
Childcare 1 7
GPs 0 11
Pharmacies 0 4
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 7
Fuel stations 0 4
Waterways 0 11

Mobility

Bellbird Heights sits further from the CBD (155.3 km vs 152.3 km).

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Walkability score 35/100 88/100
Distance to Sydney 155.3 km
+2% vs other
 152.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 123 min 117 min
Public transport score 39/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 13.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 149.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2325
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 51
postcode 2325
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Car (driver) 75.4% / 78.6%
Bellbird Heights — Car (driver): 75.4% Cessnock — Car (driver): 78.6%
Worked from Home 14.5% / 12.7%
Bellbird Heights — Worked from Home: 14.5% Cessnock — Worked from Home: 12.7%
Car (passenger) 8.8% / 5.1%
Bellbird Heights — Car (passenger): 8.8% Cessnock — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Walked Only 1.3% / 2.7%
Bellbird Heights — Walked Only: 1.3% Cessnock — Walked Only: 2.7%
Bus — / 0.4%
Bellbird Heights — Bus: not among its largest Cessnock — Bus: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.6%).

Setting

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Elevation 98 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 94 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 38.9 km 37.4 km

NBN connectivity

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Connectivity score 61/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 29%
338 premises
 37%
7,577 premises

Climate

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Annual rainfall 804 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.1°C
same for both

Council rates

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Average residential rate $1,405/yr
same for both
Council Cessnock
same for both

Federal electorate

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Division Hunter
same for both
Member Dan Repacholi
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bellbird Heights Cessnock
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bellbird Heights

River

Cessnock

Parks Regional Centre

More comparisons

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Bellbird Heights vs Bellbird

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Full data on Bellbird Heights Full data on Cessnock
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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