Bellbird vs Cessnock

Bellbird is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 40 in Cessnock. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. On these figures, Bellbird tends to suit families with children, while Cessnock suits people living alone.

Bellbird is a much smaller community of 2,338 people compared to Cessnock's 16,300, and sits slightly further from Sydney CBD at 157.3 km versus 152.3 km. Bellbird offers notably higher median household income at $74,204 against Cessnock's $61,984, though Cessnock is considerably more walkable with a score of 88 compared to Bellbird's 53. House prices are similar, but Bellbird's median unit price of $630,500 is notably higher than Cessnock's $525,000. Bellbird suits buyers seeking a quieter, more affluent pocket, while Cessnock appeals to those prioritising walkability and access to established services.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Cessnock

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (22 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (7 vs 2)
  • But Bellbird is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 55%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Bellbird has cheaper land ($395,000 vs $500,000)
  • Cessnock has cheaper units ($525,000 vs $641,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Cessnock

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 26%)

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 52/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (117 min vs 125 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (152.3 km vs 157.3 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 1)
  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 52/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 14%)

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

Investors

Bellbird

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (15.1% vs 7.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Bellbird 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 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 Cessnock
Walkability 52 / 88
Bellbird — Walkability: 52/100 Cessnock — Walkability: 88/100
Safety 11 / 11
Bellbird — Safety: 11/100 Cessnock — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 36 / 42
Bellbird — Low fire risk: 36/100 Cessnock — Low fire risk: 42/100

Demographics

Cessnock has more residents (16,300 vs 2,338); Bellbird has higher household incomes ($74,204 vs $61,984).

Bellbird Cessnock
Population 2,338 16,300
+597% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +15.1% +7.4%
Median age 34 40
Median household income $74,204/yr
+16% vs other
 $61,984/yr
Median weekly rent $323/wk $320/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bellbird Cessnock
0-4 8.4% / 5.7%
Bellbird — 0-4: 8.4% Cessnock — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 15.0% / 11.4%
Bellbird — 5-14: 15.0% Cessnock — 5-14: 11.4%
15-19 6.2% / 5.4%
Bellbird — 15-19: 6.2% Cessnock — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 6.2% / 6.3%
Bellbird — 20-24: 6.2% Cessnock — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 14.5% / 14.3%
Bellbird — 25-34: 14.5% Cessnock — 25-34: 14.3%
35-44 12.1% / 12.7%
Bellbird — 35-44: 12.1% Cessnock — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 11.4% / 11.7%
Bellbird — 45-54: 11.4% Cessnock — 45-54: 11.7%
55-64 12.0% / 11.3%
Bellbird — 55-64: 12.0% Cessnock — 55-64: 11.3%
65-74 9.8% / 11.0%
Bellbird — 65-74: 9.8% Cessnock — 65-74: 11.0%
75-84 3.3% / 6.6%
Bellbird — 75-84: 3.3% Cessnock — 75-84: 6.6%
85+ 1.2% / 3.5%
Bellbird — 85+: 1.2% Cessnock — 85+: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bellbird 41.8% couple families
Bellbird — Couple Families: 41.8% Bellbird — Lone Person: 25.6% Bellbird — One Parent Families: 26.7% Bellbird — Group Household: 3.6% Bellbird — Other Families: 2.2%
Cessnock 29.0% couple families
Cessnock — Couple Families: 29.0% Cessnock — Lone Person: 39.9% Cessnock — One Parent Families: 26.0% Cessnock — Group Household: 3.6% Cessnock — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bellbird 26.2% renting
Bellbird — Owned Outright: 33.1% Bellbird — Mortgage: 40.6% Bellbird — Renting: 26.2%
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 Cessnock
Certificate III & IV 22.8% / 17.4%
Bellbird — Certificate III & IV: 22.8% Cessnock — Certificate III & IV: 17.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.1% / 4.8%
Bellbird — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.1% Cessnock — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8%
Bachelor Degree 3.4% / 4.2%
Bellbird — Bachelor Degree: 3.4% Cessnock — Bachelor Degree: 4.2%
Postgraduate Degree 0.6% / 0.8%
Bellbird — Postgraduate Degree: 0.6% Cessnock — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.6% / 0.7%
Bellbird — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6% Cessnock — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.8%).

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 Cessnock
England 1.8% / 1.8%
Bellbird — England: 1.8% Cessnock — England: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.1%
Bellbird — New Zealand: 1.0% Cessnock — New Zealand: 1.1%
Philippines 0.4% / 0.5%
Bellbird — Philippines: 0.4% Cessnock — Philippines: 0.5%
Thailand 0.6% / 0.3%
Bellbird — Thailand: 0.6% Cessnock — Thailand: 0.3%
Scotland 0.3% / 0.4%
Bellbird — Scotland: 0.3% Cessnock — Scotland: 0.4%
Vietnam 0.3% / —
Bellbird — Vietnam: 0.3% Cessnock — Vietnam: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bellbird 91.7% houses
Bellbird — Houses: 91.7% Bellbird — Townhouses: 7.7% Bellbird — Flats / Apartments: 0.6%
Cessnock 84.1% houses
Cessnock — Houses: 84.1% Cessnock — Townhouses: 13.0% Cessnock — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bellbird Cessnock
Median house price $685,000 $700,000
Median unit price $641,000 $525,000
Median land price $395,000 $500,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 54 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 Cessnock
2 bed $682K / $620K
Bellbird — 2 bed: $682K (6 sales) Cessnock — 2 bed: $620K (60 sales)

6 vs 60 sales

3 bed $685K / $685K
Bellbird — 3 bed: $685K (45 sales) Cessnock — 3 bed: $685K (233 sales)

45 vs 233 sales

4 bed $750K / $761K
Bellbird — 4 bed: $750K (92 sales) Cessnock — 4 bed: $761K (101 sales)

92 vs 101 sales

5 bed $878K / $920K
Bellbird — 5 bed: $878K (16 sales) Cessnock — 5 bed: $920K (14 sales)

16 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Cessnock has more rural and farming land (53% vs 30%); Bellbird has more land zoned for conservation (22% vs 8%).

Bellbird Cessnock
Rural and farming 30% 53%
Residential 43% 24%
Environmental 22% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 7%
Parks and recreation 1% 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 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 Cessnock
Houses 4.0%
$660/wk on $856K
 4.1%
$600/wk on $755K
Units — 4.5%
$455/wk on $522K

Ranking within NSW

Bellbird Cessnock
House price Higher than 13% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
Income Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 9% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 34% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 44% of NSW

Liveability

Cessnock is more walkable (88 vs 52); Cessnock scores higher overall (24 vs 19).

Bellbird Cessnock
Grade D
same for both
Score 19/100 24/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Bellbird Cessnock
Bushfire Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
58/100
Crime High
89/100
same for both
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 Cessnock
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 4
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Bellbird

  • Bellbird Public School Government · Primary at peers

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 Cessnock
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 0 4
Parks & reserves 1 22
Childcare 2 7
GPs 1 11
Pharmacies 0 4
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 7
Fuel stations 0 4
Waterways 10 11

Mobility

Bellbird sits further from the CBD (157.3 km vs 152.3 km).

Bellbird Cessnock
Walkability score 52/100 88/100
Distance to Sydney 157.3 km
+3% vs other
 152.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 125 min 117 min
Public transport score 70/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 30.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 149.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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 Cessnock
Car (driver) 79.1% / 78.6%
Bellbird — Car (driver): 79.1% Cessnock — Car (driver): 78.6%
Worked from Home 13.7% / 12.7%
Bellbird — Worked from Home: 13.7% Cessnock — Worked from Home: 12.7%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 5.1%
Bellbird — Car (passenger): 5.4% Cessnock — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Walked Only 0.5% / 2.7%
Bellbird — Walked Only: 0.5% Cessnock — Walked Only: 2.7%
Bicycle 0.8% / 0.3%
Bellbird — Bicycle: 0.8% Cessnock — Bicycle: 0.3%
Bus 0.4% / 0.4%
Bellbird — Bus: 0.4% Cessnock — Bus: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.1%).

Setting

Bellbird Cessnock
Elevation 94 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 39.5 km 37.4 km

NBN connectivity

Bellbird Cessnock
Connectivity score 80/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 65%
1,632 premises
 37%
7,577 premises

Climate

Bellbird 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

Air quality (annual mean)

Bellbird Cessnock
PM2.5 — 6.3 µg/m³
PM10 22.6 µg/m³ 17.5 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.72 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Bellbird

Acreage Affordable Family Quiet River

Cessnock

Parks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bellbird

Bellbird vs Bellbird Heights Bellbird vs Mount View Bellbird vs Pelton

Other comparisons with Cessnock

Cessnock vs Abermain Cessnock vs Aberdare Cessnock vs Pokolbin Cessnock vs Kearsley Cessnock vs Bellbird Heights Cessnock vs Nulkaba
Full data on Bellbird Full data on Cessnock
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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