Bellingen vs Raleigh

Bellingen is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 49 in Raleigh. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Raleigh, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Raleigh: a median of $1.1 million, against $858,000 in Bellingen, though rent is higher in Bellingen. On these figures, Bellingen tends to suit people living alone, families with children, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Raleigh suits couples.

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

  • Bellingen has more parks and reserves (13 vs 0)
  • Raleigh has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Bellingen

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($485,000 vs $720,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($857,675 vs $1,100,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Raleigh

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (23% vs 31%)
  • has cheaper rent ($345/wk vs $390/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Raleigh

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (332 min vs 341 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (506.5 km vs 516.5 km)
  • But Bellingen is more walkable (76/100 vs 12/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Bellingen

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (76/100 vs 12/100)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • But Raleigh carries lower crime risk (66/100 vs 78/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Bellingen Raleigh
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.

Bellingen Raleigh
Walkability 76 / 12
Bellingen — Walkability: 76/100 Raleigh — Walkability: 12/100
Safety 22 / 34
Bellingen — Safety: 22/100 Raleigh — Safety: 34/100
Low fire risk 71 / 47
Bellingen — Low fire risk: 71/100 Raleigh — Low fire risk: 47/100

Demographics

Bellingen has more residents (3,923 vs 681); Raleigh has higher household incomes ($77,064 vs $65,936).

Bellingen Raleigh
Population 3,923
+83% vs other
 681
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.8% +5.6%
Median age 44 49
Median household income $65,936/yr $77,064/yr
+17% vs other
Median weekly rent $390/wk
+12% vs other
 $345/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bellingen Raleigh
0-4 4.7% / 3.4%
Bellingen — 0-4: 4.7% Raleigh — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 16.4% / 10.3%
Bellingen — 5-14: 16.4% Raleigh — 5-14: 10.3%
15-19 7.0% / 6.5%
Bellingen — 15-19: 7.0% Raleigh — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 2.9% / 5.0%
Bellingen — 20-24: 2.9% Raleigh — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 7.5% / 8.5%
Bellingen — 25-34: 7.5% Raleigh — 25-34: 8.5%
35-44 11.4% / 10.1%
Bellingen — 35-44: 11.4% Raleigh — 35-44: 10.1%
45-54 14.4% / 14.4%
Bellingen — 45-54: 14.4% Raleigh — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 13.8% / 17.5%
Bellingen — 55-64: 13.8% Raleigh — 55-64: 17.5%
65-74 12.4% / 11.9%
Bellingen — 65-74: 12.4% Raleigh — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 6.9% / 7.2%
Bellingen — 75-84: 6.9% Raleigh — 75-84: 7.2%
85+ 2.5% / 6.3%
Bellingen — 85+: 2.5% Raleigh — 85+: 6.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bellingen 32.6% couple families
Bellingen — Couple Families: 32.6% Bellingen — Lone Person: 38.1% Bellingen — One Parent Families: 22.2% Bellingen — Group Household: 5.8% Bellingen — Other Families: 1.2%
Raleigh 45.7% couple families
Raleigh — Couple Families: 45.7% Raleigh — Lone Person: 26.4% Raleigh — One Parent Families: 20.7% Raleigh — Group Household: 7.1% Raleigh — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bellingen 26.6% renting
Bellingen — Owned Outright: 40.0% Bellingen — Mortgage: 33.4% Bellingen — Renting: 26.6%
Raleigh 21.0% renting
Raleigh — Owned Outright: 47.1% Raleigh — Mortgage: 31.9% Raleigh — Renting: 21.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bellingen Raleigh
Certificate III & IV 13.5% / 19.5%
Bellingen — Certificate III & IV: 13.5% Raleigh — Certificate III & IV: 19.5%
Bachelor Degree 14.3% / 11.0%
Bellingen — Bachelor Degree: 14.3% Raleigh — Bachelor Degree: 11.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.5%
Bellingen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Raleigh — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 4.4% / 2.1%
Bellingen — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4% Raleigh — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 1.8%
Bellingen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Raleigh — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.5%).

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.

Bellingen Raleigh
England 5.3% / 4.4%
Bellingen — England: 5.3% Raleigh — England: 4.4%
New Zealand 1.8% / 1.0%
Bellingen — New Zealand: 1.8% Raleigh — New Zealand: 1.0%
Netherlands 0.7% / 0.9%
Bellingen — Netherlands: 0.7% Raleigh — Netherlands: 0.9%
Germany 0.9% / 0.4%
Bellingen — Germany: 0.9% Raleigh — Germany: 0.4%
Canada 0.5% / 0.6%
Bellingen — Canada: 0.5% Raleigh — Canada: 0.6%
South Africa 0.8% / —
Bellingen — South Africa: 0.8% Raleigh — South Africa: not among its largest
Scotland 0.7% / —
Bellingen — Scotland: 0.7% Raleigh — Scotland: not among its largest
Taiwan — / 0.7%
Bellingen — Taiwan: not among its largest Raleigh — Taiwan: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bellingen 93.2% houses
Bellingen — Houses: 93.2% Bellingen — Townhouses: 5.4% Bellingen — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Raleigh 91.5% houses
Raleigh — Houses: 91.5% Raleigh — Townhouses: 9.0% Raleigh — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bellingen Raleigh
Median house price $857,675 $1,100,000
Median unit price $855,000 —
Median land price $485,000 $720,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 58 days
from 37 sales
 44 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Bellingen Raleigh
Rural and farming 71% 76%
Environmental 13% 17%
Residential 13% 4%
Parks and recreation 2% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 1%
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

Bellingen Raleigh
New dwellings approved 40
across Bellingen
same for both
Approvals change year on year +12%
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.

Bellingen Raleigh
Houses 3.0%
$678/wk on $1.18M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Bellingen Raleigh
House price Higher than 38% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
Income Higher than 28% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
Schools Higher than 4% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 79% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 22% of NSW —

Liveability

Bellingen is more walkable (76 vs 12); Bellingen scores higher overall (34 vs 26).

Bellingen Raleigh
Grade C D
Score 34/100 26/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Raleigh carries more bushfire risk (53 vs 29); Bellingen carries more crime risk (78 vs 66).

Bellingen Raleigh
Bushfire Low
29/100
 Moderate
53/100
Crime High
78/100
 Moderate
66/100
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Bellingen Raleigh
Inside the suburb 5 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Bellingen

  • Bellingen High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Mary's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Bellingen Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Chrysalis School for Rudolf Steiner Education - Bellingen Campus Independent · Primary
  • Chrysalis School for Rudolf Steiner Education Stage 5 Campus Independent · Secondary

Schools in Raleigh

  • Raleigh Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bellingen Raleigh
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 15 0
Parks & reserves 13 0
Childcare 3 0
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 39 13

Mobility

Bellingen sits further from the CBD (516.5 km vs 506.5 km).

Bellingen Raleigh
Walkability score 76/100 12/100
Distance to Sydney 516.5 km
+2% vs other
 506.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 341 min 332 min
Public transport score 62/100
Bus
 28/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 31.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 7.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 3 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2454
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 70
postcode 2454
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.

Bellingen Raleigh
Car (driver) 62.6% / 74.8%
Bellingen — Car (driver): 62.6% Raleigh — Car (driver): 74.8%
Worked from Home 23.9% / 15.7%
Bellingen — Worked from Home: 23.9% Raleigh — Worked from Home: 15.7%
Walked Only 7.9% / 3.9%
Bellingen — Walked Only: 7.9% Raleigh — Walked Only: 3.9%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 5.5%
Bellingen — Car (passenger): 4.5% Raleigh — Car (passenger): 5.5%
Bicycle 1.1% / —
Bellingen — Bicycle: 1.1% Raleigh — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.8%).

Setting

Bellingen Raleigh
Elevation 53 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.4 km 4.9 km

NBN connectivity

Bellingen Raleigh
Connectivity score 74/100 34/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 39%
1,944 premises
 0%
362 premises

Climate

Bellingen Raleigh
Annual rainfall 1,827 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Bellingen Raleigh
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 10.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.22 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Bellingen Raleigh
Average residential rate $1,592/yr
same for both
Council Bellingen
same for both

Federal electorate

Bellingen Raleigh
Division Cowper
same for both
Member Pat Conaghan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bellingen Raleigh
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bellingen

Acreage Parks Professionals Village Feel

Raleigh

Retirees Rural

More comparisons

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Bellingen vs Fernmount Bellingen vs Gleniffer Bellingen vs Brierfield Bellingen vs Thora Bellingen vs Kalang Bellingen vs Hydes Creek

Other comparisons with Raleigh

Raleigh vs Urunga Raleigh vs Repton Raleigh vs Fernmount Raleigh vs Mylestom Raleigh vs Hydes Creek Raleigh vs Valery
Full data on Bellingen Full data on Raleigh
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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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