Bowenfels vs Lithgow

Bowenfels is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 49 in Lithgow. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Bowenfels, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Lithgow, most households own their home and most households are people living alone. On these figures, Bowenfels tends to suit renters and families with children, while Lithgow suits people living alone.

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

Lithgow

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 6)
  • But Bowenfels is already more of a family suburb (49% vs 38%)

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

  • Bowenfels has cheaper units ($425,000 vs $492,500)
  • Lithgow leaves households under less mortgage stress (30% vs 39%)

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

Renters

Bowenfels

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($185/wk vs $280/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 28%)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (47% vs 36%)

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

Commuting to the city

Lithgow

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (87/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (130 min vs 148 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (146 km vs 152.8 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Lithgow

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (87/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (29% vs 21%)

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

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

Bowenfels Lithgow
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.

Bowenfels Lithgow
Walkability 0 / 87
Bowenfels — Walkability: 0/100 Lithgow — Walkability: 87/100
Safety 7 / 9
Bowenfels — Safety: 7/100 Lithgow — Safety: 9/100
Low fire risk 6 / 3
Bowenfels — Low fire risk: 6/100 Lithgow — Low fire risk: 3/100

Demographics

Lithgow has more residents (4,956 vs 2,049); Lithgow rents higher ($280/wk vs $185/wk).

Bowenfels Lithgow
Population 2,049 4,956
+142% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.0% -4.7%
Median age 41 49
Median household income $47,684/yr $52,520/yr
+10% vs other
Median weekly rent $185/wk $280/wk
+51% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bowenfels Lithgow
0-4 5.7% / 4.0%
Bowenfels — 0-4: 5.7% Lithgow — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 15.3% / 10.4%
Bowenfels — 5-14: 15.3% Lithgow — 5-14: 10.4%
15-19 6.7% / 4.7%
Bowenfels — 15-19: 6.7% Lithgow — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 4.9% / 4.6%
Bowenfels — 20-24: 4.9% Lithgow — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 10.1% / 11.6%
Bowenfels — 25-34: 10.1% Lithgow — 25-34: 11.6%
35-44 10.6% / 9.5%
Bowenfels — 35-44: 10.6% Lithgow — 35-44: 9.5%
45-54 13.4% / 11.6%
Bowenfels — 45-54: 13.4% Lithgow — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 12.3% / 14.7%
Bowenfels — 55-64: 12.3% Lithgow — 55-64: 14.7%
65-74 10.2% / 14.9%
Bowenfels — 65-74: 10.2% Lithgow — 65-74: 14.9%
75-84 7.4% / 10.3%
Bowenfels — 75-84: 7.4% Lithgow — 75-84: 10.3%
85+ 3.5% / 3.6%
Bowenfels — 85+: 3.5% Lithgow — 85+: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bowenfels 45.2% lone person
Bowenfels — Lone Person: 45.2% Bowenfels — Couple Families: 26.2% Bowenfels — One Parent Families: 22.8% Bowenfels — Group Household: 4.3% Bowenfels — Other Families: 1.5%
Lithgow 57.1% lone person
Lithgow — Lone Person: 57.1% Lithgow — Couple Families: 20.0% Lithgow — One Parent Families: 17.7% Lithgow — Group Household: 3.9% Lithgow — Other Families: 1.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bowenfels 46.7% renting
Bowenfels — Owned Outright: 29.3% Bowenfels — Mortgage: 24.0% Bowenfels — Renting: 46.7%
Lithgow 35.9% renting
Lithgow — Owned Outright: 40.7% Lithgow — Mortgage: 23.4% Lithgow — Renting: 35.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Bowenfels Lithgow
England 1.8% / 2.3%
Bowenfels — England: 1.8% Lithgow — England: 2.3%
New Zealand 0.8% / 1.2%
Bowenfels — New Zealand: 0.8% Lithgow — New Zealand: 1.2%
Philippines 0.7% / 0.9%
Bowenfels — Philippines: 0.7% Lithgow — Philippines: 0.9%
India 0.5% / 0.9%
Bowenfels — India: 0.5% Lithgow — India: 0.9%
China 0.4% / 0.7%
Bowenfels — China: 0.4% Lithgow — China: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.3%).

Qualifications

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

Bowenfels Lithgow
Certificate III & IV 14.4% / 17.6%
Bowenfels — Certificate III & IV: 14.4% Lithgow — Certificate III & IV: 17.6%
Bachelor Degree 3.5% / 7.4%
Bowenfels — Bachelor Degree: 3.5% Lithgow — Bachelor Degree: 7.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.3% / 6.3%
Bowenfels — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.3% Lithgow — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3%
Postgraduate Degree 0.8% / 1.6%
Bowenfels — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8% Lithgow — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.7% / 1.2%
Bowenfels — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7% Lithgow — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bowenfels 90.6% houses
Bowenfels — Houses: 90.6% Bowenfels — Townhouses: 7.3% Bowenfels — Flats / Apartments: 2.1%
Lithgow 81.7% houses
Lithgow — Houses: 81.7% Lithgow — Townhouses: 13.4% Lithgow — Flats / Apartments: 4.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bowenfels Lithgow
Median house price $540,000
same for both
Median unit price $425,000 $492,500
Median land price $327,500 $305,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 42 days
from 10 sales
 36 days
from 110 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.

Bowenfels Lithgow
2 bed $422K / $446K
Bowenfels — 2 bed: $422K (6 sales) Lithgow — 2 bed: $446K (56 sales)

6 vs 56 sales

3 bed $485K / $560K
Bowenfels — 3 bed: $485K (11 sales) Lithgow — 3 bed: $560K (107 sales)

11 vs 107 sales

4 bed $800K / $650K
Bowenfels — 4 bed: $800K (14 sales) Lithgow — 4 bed: $650K (26 sales)

14 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

Bowenfels has more land zoned for conservation (68% vs 28%).

Bowenfels Lithgow
Environmental 68% 28%
Residential 9% 46%
Infrastructure and transport 22% 4%
Parks and recreation 0% 12%
Industrial 0% 7%
Commercial 0% 2%
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

Bowenfels Lithgow
New dwellings approved 55
across Lithgow
same for both
Approvals change year on year +0%
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.

Bowenfels Lithgow
Houses — 4.3%
$470/wk on $575K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Bowenfels Lithgow
House price Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
Income Higher than 9% of NSW —
Schools — Higher than 24% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 13% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 58% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 84% of NSW

Liveability

Lithgow is more walkable (87 vs 0); Lithgow scores higher overall (24 vs 7).

Bowenfels Lithgow
Grade D
same for both
Score 7/100 24/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Bowenfels Lithgow
Bushfire High
94/100
 High
97/100
Crime High
93/100
 High
91/100
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 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Bowenfels Lithgow
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Bowenfels

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

Schools in Lithgow

  • Lithgow High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Lithgow Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Patrick's Catholic Primary School Lithgow Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Cooerwull Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bowenfels Lithgow
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 19
Parks & reserves 6 14
Childcare 1 5
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 5
Fuel stations 1 3
EV chargers 0 2
Waterways 6 0

Mobility

Bowenfels sits further from the CBD (152.8 km vs 146 km).

Bowenfels Lithgow
Walkability score 0/100 87/100
Distance to Sydney 152.8 km
+4% vs other
 146 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 148 min 130 min
Public transport score 69/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 41.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 108.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2790
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2790
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.

Bowenfels Lithgow
Car (driver) 79.0% / 71.0%
Bowenfels — Car (driver): 79.0% Lithgow — Car (driver): 71.0%
Worked from Home 9.2% / 12.2%
Bowenfels — Worked from Home: 9.2% Lithgow — Worked from Home: 12.2%
Car (passenger) 8.2% / 5.4%
Bowenfels — Car (passenger): 8.2% Lithgow — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Walked Only 1.5% / 9.8%
Bowenfels — Walked Only: 1.5% Lithgow — Walked Only: 9.8%
Train 2.1% / 0.6%
Bowenfels — Train: 2.1% Lithgow — Train: 0.6%
Bicycle — / 0.7%
Bowenfels — Bicycle: not among its largest Lithgow — Bicycle: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.0%).

Setting

Bowenfels Lithgow
Elevation 972 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 933 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Bowenfels Lithgow
Connectivity score 75/100 86/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 48%
961 premises
 54%
3,279 premises

Climate

Bowenfels Lithgow
Annual rainfall 1,147 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 23.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.2°C
same for both

Council rates

Bowenfels Lithgow
Average residential rate $1,150/yr
same for both
Council Lithgow
same for both

Federal electorate

Bowenfels Lithgow
Division Calare
same for both
Member Andrew Gee
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bowenfels Lithgow
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bowenfels

Acreage Affordable

Lithgow

Affordable Parks Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bowenfels

Bowenfels vs Wallerawang Bowenfels vs South Bowenfels Bowenfels vs Marrangaroo Bowenfels vs Littleton Bowenfels vs Hermitage Flat Bowenfels vs South Littleton

Other comparisons with Lithgow

Lithgow vs Marrangaroo Lithgow vs Littleton Lithgow vs Morts Estate Lithgow vs Hartley Lithgow vs Vale Of Clwydd Lithgow vs Hermitage Flat
Full data on Bowenfels Full data on Lithgow
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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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