Bowenfels vs Mckellars Park

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 McKellars Park, most households own their home. On these figures, Bowenfels tends to suit renters.

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

  • Bowenfels has more parks and reserves (6 vs 1)
  • Mckellars Park carries lower crime risk (10/100 vs 93/100)

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

First-home buyers

McKellars Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (26% vs 39%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Bowenfels

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($185/wk vs $340/wk)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (47% vs 26%)

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

Commuting to the city

McKellars Park

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (46/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (134 min vs 148 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (147.5 km vs 152.8 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

McKellars Park

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (46/100 vs 0/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (10/100 vs 93/100)

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

Investors

Bowenfels

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (0.0% vs -7.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Bowenfels and Mckellars Park 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 Mckellars Park
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 Mckellars Park
Walkability 0 / 46
Bowenfels — Walkability: 0/100 Mckellars Park — Walkability: 46/100
Safety 7 / 90
Bowenfels — Safety: 7/100 Mckellars Park — Safety: 90/100
Low fire risk 6 / 0
Bowenfels — Low fire risk: 6/100 Mckellars Park — Low fire risk: 0/100

Demographics

Bowenfels has more residents (2,049 vs 210); McKellars Park rents higher ($340/wk vs $185/wk).

Bowenfels Mckellars Park
Population 2,049
+90% vs other
 210
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.0% -7.5%
Median age 41 39
Median household income $47,684/yr $72,280/yr
+52% vs other
Median weekly rent $185/wk $340/wk
+84% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bowenfels Mckellars Park
0-4 5.7% / 11.9%
Bowenfels — 0-4: 5.7% Mckellars Park — 0-4: 11.9%
5-14 15.3% / 8.1%
Bowenfels — 5-14: 15.3% Mckellars Park — 5-14: 8.1%
15-19 6.7% / 1.4%
Bowenfels — 15-19: 6.7% Mckellars Park — 15-19: 1.4%
20-24 4.9% / 5.2%
Bowenfels — 20-24: 4.9% Mckellars Park — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 10.1% / 18.6%
Bowenfels — 25-34: 10.1% Mckellars Park — 25-34: 18.6%
35-44 10.6% / 8.1%
Bowenfels — 35-44: 10.6% Mckellars Park — 35-44: 8.1%
45-54 13.4% / 13.3%
Bowenfels — 45-54: 13.4% Mckellars Park — 45-54: 13.3%
55-64 12.3% / 11.4%
Bowenfels — 55-64: 12.3% Mckellars Park — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 10.2% / 11.9%
Bowenfels — 65-74: 10.2% Mckellars Park — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 7.4% / 8.1%
Bowenfels — 75-84: 7.4% Mckellars Park — 75-84: 8.1%
85+ 3.5% / —
Bowenfels — 85+: 3.5% Mckellars Park — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

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%
Mckellars Park 44.8% lone person
Mckellars Park — Lone Person: 44.8% Mckellars Park — Couple Families: 32.8% Mckellars Park — One Parent Families: 15.5% Mckellars Park — Group Household: 6.9% Mckellars Park — Other Families: 0.0%
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%
Mckellars Park 25.9% renting
Mckellars Park — Owned Outright: 56.5% Mckellars Park — Mortgage: 17.6% Mckellars Park — Renting: 25.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bowenfels Mckellars Park
Certificate III & IV 14.4% / 18.6%
Bowenfels — Certificate III & IV: 14.4% Mckellars Park — Certificate III & IV: 18.6%
Bachelor Degree 3.5% / 7.6%
Bowenfels — Bachelor Degree: 3.5% Mckellars Park — Bachelor Degree: 7.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.3% / 5.7%
Bowenfels — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.3% Mckellars Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.7%
Postgraduate Degree 0.8% / 1.4%
Bowenfels — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8% Mckellars Park — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.7% / 1.4%
Bowenfels — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7% Mckellars Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

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 Mckellars Park
England 1.8% / 3.3%
Bowenfels — England: 1.8% Mckellars Park — England: 3.3%
South Africa — / 1.9%
Bowenfels — South Africa: not among its largest Mckellars Park — South Africa: 1.9%
Netherlands — / 1.9%
Bowenfels — Netherlands: not among its largest Mckellars Park — Netherlands: 1.9%
New Zealand 0.8% / —
Bowenfels — New Zealand: 0.8% Mckellars Park — New Zealand: not among its largest
Philippines 0.7% / —
Bowenfels — Philippines: 0.7% Mckellars Park — Philippines: not among its largest
India 0.5% / —
Bowenfels — India: 0.5% Mckellars Park — India: not among its largest
China 0.4% / —
Bowenfels — China: 0.4% Mckellars Park — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.3%).

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%
Mckellars Park 90.7% houses
Mckellars Park — Houses: 90.7% Mckellars Park — Townhouses: 10.5% Mckellars Park — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bowenfels Mckellars Park
Median house price $540,000 $565,000
Median unit price $425,000 —
Median land price $327,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 42 days
from 10 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Bowenfels has more land zoned for conservation (68% vs 12%).

Bowenfels Mckellars Park
Residential 9% 83%
Environmental 68% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 22% 0%
Parks and recreation 0% 5%
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 Mckellars Park
New dwellings approved 55
across Lithgow
same for both
Approvals change year on year +0%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Bowenfels Mckellars Park
House price Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW
Income Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 39% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 13% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW

Liveability

McKellars Park is more walkable (46 vs 0).

Bowenfels Mckellars Park
Grade D —
Score 7/100 —
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Bowenfels carries more crime risk (93 vs 10).

Bowenfels Mckellars Park
Bushfire High
94/100
 High
100/100
Crime High
93/100
 Low
10/100
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 Mckellars Park
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Bowenfels Mckellars Park
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 6 1
Childcare 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 6 0

Mobility

Bowenfels sits further from the CBD (152.8 km vs 147.5 km).

Bowenfels Mckellars Park
Walkability score 0/100 46/100
Distance to Sydney 152.8 km
+3% vs other
 147.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 148 min 134 min
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 Mckellars Park
Car (driver) 79.0% / 74.1%
Bowenfels — Car (driver): 79.0% Mckellars Park — Car (driver): 74.1%
Worked from Home 9.2% / 21.0%
Bowenfels — Worked from Home: 9.2% Mckellars Park — Worked from Home: 21.0%
Car (passenger) 8.2% / 4.9%
Bowenfels — Car (passenger): 8.2% Mckellars Park — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Train 2.1% / —
Bowenfels — Train: 2.1% Mckellars Park — Train: not among its largest
Walked Only 1.5% / —
Bowenfels — Walked Only: 1.5% Mckellars Park — Walked Only: not among its largest

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

Setting

Bowenfels Mckellars Park
Elevation 972 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 937 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Bowenfels Mckellars Park
Connectivity score 75/100 96/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 48%
961 premises
 78%
107 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Bowenfels Mckellars Park
Division Calare
same for both
Member Andrew Gee
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Bowenfels

Acreage Affordable

Mckellars Park

Affordable Quiet Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bowenfels

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

Other comparisons with Mckellars Park

Mckellars Park vs Lithgow Mckellars Park vs Marrangaroo Mckellars Park vs Hermitage Flat
Full data on Bowenfels Full data on Mckellars Park
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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