Bowenfels vs Rydal

Bowenfels is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 53 in Rydal. 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 Rydal, the large majority of households own their home and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Rydal: a median of $764,000, against $540,000 in Bowenfels, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Bowenfels tends to suit renters, families with children, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Rydal 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

They split

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

  • Bowenfels is already more of a family suburb (49% vs 36%)
  • Rydal carries lower crime risk (68/100 vs 93/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Bowenfels has cheaper houses ($540,000 vs $764,000)
  • Rydal leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 39%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Bowenfels

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (47% vs 6%)
  • has cheaper rent ($185/wk vs $200/wk)
  • But Rydal leaves renters under less rental stress (15% vs 20%)

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

Commuting to the city

Bowenfels

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (152.8 km vs 160.8 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Rydal

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (68/100 vs 93/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (29% vs 21%)

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 -23.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Bowenfels and Rydal 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 Rydal
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 Rydal
Walkability 0 / 0
Bowenfels — Walkability: 0/100 Rydal — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 7 / 32
Bowenfels — Safety: 7/100 Rydal — Safety: 32/100
Low fire risk 6 / 81
Bowenfels — Low fire risk: 6/100 Rydal — Low fire risk: 81/100

Demographics

Bowenfels has more residents (2,049 vs 163); Rydal has higher household incomes ($68,900 vs $47,684).

Bowenfels Rydal
Population 2,049
+92% vs other
 163
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.0% -23.5%
Median age 41 53
Median household income $47,684/yr $68,900/yr
+44% vs other
Median weekly rent $185/wk $200/wk
+8% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bowenfels Rydal
0-4 5.7% / 3.1%
Bowenfels — 0-4: 5.7% Rydal — 0-4: 3.1%
5-14 15.3% / 9.2%
Bowenfels — 5-14: 15.3% Rydal — 5-14: 9.2%
15-19 6.7% / 8.6%
Bowenfels — 15-19: 6.7% Rydal — 15-19: 8.6%
20-24 4.9% / 1.8%
Bowenfels — 20-24: 4.9% Rydal — 20-24: 1.8%
25-34 10.1% / 8.6%
Bowenfels — 25-34: 10.1% Rydal — 25-34: 8.6%
35-44 10.6% / 9.2%
Bowenfels — 35-44: 10.6% Rydal — 35-44: 9.2%
45-54 13.4% / 17.8%
Bowenfels — 45-54: 13.4% Rydal — 45-54: 17.8%
55-64 12.3% / 15.3%
Bowenfels — 55-64: 12.3% Rydal — 55-64: 15.3%
65-74 10.2% / 17.2%
Bowenfels — 65-74: 10.2% Rydal — 65-74: 17.2%
75-84 7.4% / 9.8%
Bowenfels — 75-84: 7.4% Rydal — 75-84: 9.8%
85+ 3.5% / 1.8%
Bowenfels — 85+: 3.5% Rydal — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

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%
Rydal 64.3% lone person
Rydal — Lone Person: 64.3% Rydal — Couple Families: 23.8% Rydal — One Parent Families: 11.9% Rydal — Group Household: 0.0% Rydal — 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%
Rydal 6.2% renting
Rydal — Owned Outright: 59.4% Rydal — Mortgage: 34.4% Rydal — Renting: 6.2%
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 Rydal
England 1.8% / 4.9%
Bowenfels — England: 1.8% Rydal — England: 4.9%
New Zealand 0.8% / —
Bowenfels — New Zealand: 0.8% Rydal — New Zealand: not among its largest
Philippines 0.7% / —
Bowenfels — Philippines: 0.7% Rydal — Philippines: not among its largest
India 0.5% / —
Bowenfels — India: 0.5% Rydal — India: not among its largest
China 0.4% / —
Bowenfels — China: 0.4% Rydal — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

Qualifications

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

Bowenfels Rydal
Certificate III & IV 14.4% / 20.2%
Bowenfels — Certificate III & IV: 14.4% Rydal — Certificate III & IV: 20.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.3% / 8.6%
Bowenfels — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.3% Rydal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Bachelor Degree 3.5% / 9.2%
Bowenfels — Bachelor Degree: 3.5% Rydal — Bachelor Degree: 9.2%
Postgraduate Degree 0.8% / 1.8%
Bowenfels — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8% Rydal — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.7% / —
Bowenfels — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7% Rydal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

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%
Rydal 92.4% houses
Rydal — Houses: 92.4% Rydal — Townhouses: 6.1% Rydal — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bowenfels Rydal
Median house price $540,000 $764,000
Median unit price $425,000 —
Median land price $327,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 42 days
from 10 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Rydal has more rural and farming land (90% vs 1%); Bowenfels has more land zoned for conservation (68% vs 0%).

Bowenfels Rydal
Rural and farming 1% 90%
Environmental 68% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 22% 8%
Residential 9% 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

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

Ranking within NSW

Bowenfels Rydal
House price Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
Income Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 13% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW

Liveability

Bowenfels Rydal
Grade D —
Score 7/100 —
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Bowenfels carries more bushfire risk (94 vs 19); Bowenfels carries more crime risk (93 vs 68).

Bowenfels Rydal
Bushfire High
94/100
 Low
19/100
Crime High
93/100
 Moderate
68/100
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
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Bowenfels Rydal
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 Rydal
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 6 5
Childcare 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 6 17

Mobility

Rydal sits further from the CBD (160.8 km vs 152.8 km).

Bowenfels Rydal
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 152.8 km 160.8 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 148 min 146 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 Rydal
Car (driver) 79.0% / 57.4%
Bowenfels — Car (driver): 79.0% Rydal — Car (driver): 57.4%
Worked from Home 9.2% / 29.4%
Bowenfels — Worked from Home: 9.2% Rydal — Worked from Home: 29.4%
Car (passenger) 8.2% / 8.8%
Bowenfels — Car (passenger): 8.2% Rydal — Car (passenger): 8.8%
Walked Only 1.5% / 4.4%
Bowenfels — Walked Only: 1.5% Rydal — Walked Only: 4.4%
Train 2.1% / —
Bowenfels — Train: 2.1% Rydal — Train: not among its largest

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

Setting

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

NBN connectivity

Bowenfels Rydal
Connectivity score 75/100 23/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 48%
961 premises
 0%
54 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Bowenfels

Acreage Affordable

Rydal

Retirees Rural Trains

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 Rydal

Rydal vs Wallerawang Rydal vs South Bowenfels Rydal vs Hartley Rydal vs Hampton Rydal vs Sodwalls Rydal vs Mount Lambie
Full data on Bowenfels Full data on Rydal
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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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