Bowenfels vs Wallerawang

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 Wallerawang, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Wallerawang: a median of $588,000, against $540,000 in Bowenfels, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Bowenfels tends to suit renters and 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

Wallerawang

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 6)
  • carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 93/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (59% vs 49%)

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

First-home buyers

Wallerawang

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (25% vs 39%)
  • has cheaper units ($379,000 vs $425,000)
  • But Bowenfels has cheaper land ($327,500 vs $562,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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 26%)
  • has cheaper rent ($185/wk vs $275/wk)

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 162.7 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Wallerawang

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 93/100)

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

Bowenfels and Wallerawang 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 Wallerawang
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 Wallerawang
Walkability 0 / 5
Bowenfels — Walkability: 0/100 Wallerawang — Walkability: 5/100
Safety 7 / 26
Bowenfels — Safety: 7/100 Wallerawang — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 6 / 70
Bowenfels — Low fire risk: 6/100 Wallerawang — Low fire risk: 70/100

Demographics

Wallerawang has higher household incomes ($74,048 vs $47,684); Wallerawang rents higher ($275/wk vs $185/wk).

Bowenfels Wallerawang
Population 2,049
+1% vs other
 2,019
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.0% +2.0%
Median age 41 39
Median household income $47,684/yr $74,048/yr
+55% vs other
Median weekly rent $185/wk $275/wk
+49% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bowenfels Wallerawang
0-4 5.7% / 5.8%
Bowenfels — 0-4: 5.7% Wallerawang — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 15.3% / 15.6%
Bowenfels — 5-14: 15.3% Wallerawang — 5-14: 15.6%
15-19 6.7% / 6.2%
Bowenfels — 15-19: 6.7% Wallerawang — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 4.9% / 4.9%
Bowenfels — 20-24: 4.9% Wallerawang — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 10.1% / 11.8%
Bowenfels — 25-34: 10.1% Wallerawang — 25-34: 11.8%
35-44 10.6% / 11.2%
Bowenfels — 35-44: 10.6% Wallerawang — 35-44: 11.2%
45-54 13.4% / 12.0%
Bowenfels — 45-54: 13.4% Wallerawang — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 12.3% / 14.1%
Bowenfels — 55-64: 12.3% Wallerawang — 55-64: 14.1%
65-74 10.2% / 11.9%
Bowenfels — 65-74: 10.2% Wallerawang — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 7.4% / 4.8%
Bowenfels — 75-84: 7.4% Wallerawang — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 3.5% / 1.3%
Bowenfels — 85+: 3.5% Wallerawang — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.6%).

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%
Wallerawang 34.9% lone person
Wallerawang — Lone Person: 34.9% Wallerawang — Couple Families: 40.4% Wallerawang — One Parent Families: 18.2% Wallerawang — Group Household: 4.2% Wallerawang — Other Families: 2.3%
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%
Wallerawang 26.0% renting
Wallerawang — Owned Outright: 35.8% Wallerawang — Mortgage: 38.2% Wallerawang — Renting: 26.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bowenfels Wallerawang
Certificate III & IV 14.4% / 21.4%
Bowenfels — Certificate III & IV: 14.4% Wallerawang — Certificate III & IV: 21.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.3% / 5.6%
Bowenfels — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.3% Wallerawang — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6%
Bachelor Degree 3.5% / 4.9%
Bowenfels — Bachelor Degree: 3.5% Wallerawang — Bachelor Degree: 4.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.7% / 1.2%
Bowenfels — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7% Wallerawang — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%
Postgraduate Degree 0.8% / 1.0%
Bowenfels — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8% Wallerawang — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.4%).

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 Wallerawang
England 1.8% / 1.1%
Bowenfels — England: 1.8% Wallerawang — England: 1.1%
New Zealand 0.8% / 0.7%
Bowenfels — New Zealand: 0.8% Wallerawang — New Zealand: 0.7%
Philippines 0.7% / 0.4%
Bowenfels — Philippines: 0.7% Wallerawang — Philippines: 0.4%
India 0.5% / 0.5%
Bowenfels — India: 0.5% Wallerawang — India: 0.5%
China 0.4% / 0.4%
Bowenfels — China: 0.4% Wallerawang — China: 0.4%
Germany 0.3% / 0.5%
Bowenfels — Germany: 0.3% Wallerawang — Germany: 0.5%
Scotland — / 0.5%
Bowenfels — Scotland: not among its largest Wallerawang — Scotland: 0.5%

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

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%
Wallerawang 94.0% houses
Wallerawang — Houses: 94.0% Wallerawang — Townhouses: 3.6% Wallerawang — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bowenfels Wallerawang
Median house price $540,000 $588,000
Median unit price $425,000 $379,000
Median land price $327,500 $562,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 42 days
from 10 sales
 47 days
from 5 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 Wallerawang
3 bed $485K / $505K
Bowenfels — 3 bed: $485K (11 sales) Wallerawang — 3 bed: $505K (16 sales)

11 vs 16 sales

4 bed $800K / $670K
Bowenfels — 4 bed: $800K (14 sales) Wallerawang — 4 bed: $670K (11 sales)

14 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Wallerawang has more rural and farming land (75% vs 1%); Bowenfels has more land zoned for conservation (68% vs 6%).

Bowenfels Wallerawang
Rural and farming 1% 75%
Environmental 68% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 22% 11%
Residential 9% 5%
Industrial 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 Wallerawang
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 Wallerawang
Houses — 4.1%
$500/wk on $635K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Bowenfels Wallerawang
House price Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
Income Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 13% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 77% of NSW

Liveability

Wallerawang scores higher overall (24 vs 7).

Bowenfels Wallerawang
Grade D
same for both
Score 7/100 24/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Bowenfels carries more bushfire risk (94 vs 30); Bowenfels carries more crime risk (93 vs 74).

Bowenfels Wallerawang
Bushfire High
94/100
 Low
30/100
Crime High
93/100
 High
74/100
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
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Bowenfels Wallerawang
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Bowenfels

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

Schools in Wallerawang

  • Wallerawang Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bowenfels Wallerawang
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 4
Parks & reserves 6 9
Childcare 1
same for both
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 6 15

Mobility

Wallerawang sits further from the CBD (162.7 km vs 152.8 km).

Bowenfels Wallerawang
Walkability score 0/100 5/100
Distance to Sydney 152.8 km 162.7 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 148 min 146 min
Public transport score 69/100
Bus
 51/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 41.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 23.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2790
 0.2%
postcode 2845
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2790
 48
postcode 2845

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 Wallerawang
Car (driver) 79.0% / 82.3%
Bowenfels — Car (driver): 79.0% Wallerawang — Car (driver): 82.3%
Worked from Home 9.2% / 10.2%
Bowenfels — Worked from Home: 9.2% Wallerawang — Worked from Home: 10.2%
Car (passenger) 8.2% / 4.8%
Bowenfels — Car (passenger): 8.2% Wallerawang — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Walked Only 1.5% / 2.7%
Bowenfels — Walked Only: 1.5% Wallerawang — Walked Only: 2.7%
Train 2.1% / —
Bowenfels — Train: 2.1% Wallerawang — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (82.3%).

Setting

Bowenfels Wallerawang
Elevation 972 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 930 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Bowenfels Wallerawang
Connectivity score 75/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 48%
961 premises
 48%
952 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Bowenfels

Acreage Affordable

Wallerawang

Acreage Affordable River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bowenfels

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

Other comparisons with Wallerawang

Wallerawang vs Portland Wallerawang vs Marrangaroo Wallerawang vs Lidsdale Wallerawang vs Meadow Flat Wallerawang vs Rydal Wallerawang vs Mount Lambie
Full data on Bowenfels Full data on Wallerawang
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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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