Brandy Hill vs Nelsons Plains

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Nelsons Plains: a median of $1.98 million, against $1.5 million in Brandy Hill. On these figures, Brandy Hill tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Nelsons Plains suits families with children.

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

Brandy Hill

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (15/100 vs 67/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (82% vs 72%)

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

First-home buyers

Brandy Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,500,000 vs $1,975,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Nelsons Plains

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (170.6 km vs 175.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Brandy Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (15/100 vs 67/100)

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

Where they sit

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

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
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.

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
Walkability 14 / 14
Brandy Hill — Walkability: 14/100 Nelsons Plains — Walkability: 14/100
Safety 85 / 33
Brandy Hill — Safety: 85/100 Nelsons Plains — Safety: 33/100
Low fire risk 100 / 86
Brandy Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100 Nelsons Plains — Low fire risk: 86/100

Demographics

Brandy Hill has more residents (713 vs 326).

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
Population 713
+54% vs other
 326
Population trend (2016 → 2021) —
same for both
Median age 48
same for both
Median household income $123,968/yr
+6% vs other
 $117,000/yr
Median weekly rent $538/wk $553/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
0-4 5.6% / 6.4%
Brandy Hill — 0-4: 5.6% Nelsons Plains — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 10.9% / 15.6%
Brandy Hill — 5-14: 10.9% Nelsons Plains — 5-14: 15.6%
15-19 6.3% / 7.1%
Brandy Hill — 15-19: 6.3% Nelsons Plains — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 7.4% / 3.4%
Brandy Hill — 20-24: 7.4% Nelsons Plains — 20-24: 3.4%
25-34 7.6% / 4.9%
Brandy Hill — 25-34: 7.6% Nelsons Plains — 25-34: 4.9%
35-44 10.9% / 10.1%
Brandy Hill — 35-44: 10.9% Nelsons Plains — 35-44: 10.1%
45-54 13.2% / 14.1%
Brandy Hill — 45-54: 13.2% Nelsons Plains — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 21.0% / 16.9%
Brandy Hill — 55-64: 21.0% Nelsons Plains — 55-64: 16.9%
65-74 13.6% / 15.6%
Brandy Hill — 65-74: 13.6% Nelsons Plains — 65-74: 15.6%
75-84 4.6% / 3.7%
Brandy Hill — 75-84: 4.6% Nelsons Plains — 75-84: 3.7%
85+ 1.0% / 2.1%
Brandy Hill — 85+: 1.0% Nelsons Plains — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Brandy Hill 70.9% couple families
Brandy Hill — Couple Families: 70.9% Brandy Hill — Lone Person: 17.7% Brandy Hill — One Parent Families: 11.3% Brandy Hill — Other Families: 0.0%
Nelsons Plains 66.0% couple families
Nelsons Plains — Couple Families: 66.0% Nelsons Plains — Lone Person: 16.0% Nelsons Plains — One Parent Families: 6.0% Nelsons Plains — Other Families: 12.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Brandy Hill 4.7% renting
Brandy Hill — Owned Outright: 44.7% Brandy Hill — Mortgage: 50.6% Brandy Hill — Renting: 4.7%
Nelsons Plains 3.2% renting
Nelsons Plains — Owned Outright: 50.5% Nelsons Plains — Mortgage: 46.2% Nelsons Plains — Renting: 3.2%
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.

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
England 2.9% / 1.2%
Brandy Hill — England: 2.9% Nelsons Plains — England: 1.2%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.2%
Brandy Hill — New Zealand: 1.3% Nelsons Plains — New Zealand: 1.2%
South Africa 1.3% / —
Brandy Hill — South Africa: 1.3% Nelsons Plains — South Africa: not among its largest
Germany 0.6% / —
Brandy Hill — Germany: 0.6% Nelsons Plains — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.9%).

Qualifications

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

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
Certificate III & IV 20.8% / 17.2%
Brandy Hill — Certificate III & IV: 20.8% Nelsons Plains — Certificate III & IV: 17.2%
Bachelor Degree 12.6% / 10.4%
Brandy Hill — Bachelor Degree: 12.6% Nelsons Plains — Bachelor Degree: 10.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 7.1%
Brandy Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Nelsons Plains — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 2.1%
Brandy Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% Nelsons Plains — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 2.1%
Brandy Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% Nelsons Plains — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Brandy Hill 100.0% houses
Brandy Hill — Houses: 100.0% Brandy Hill — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Nelsons Plains 98.9% houses
Nelsons Plains — Houses: 98.9% Nelsons Plains — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
Median house price $1,500,000 $1,975,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 5 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Nelsons Plains has more rural and farming land (93% vs 54%).

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
Rural and farming 54% 93%
Residential 46% 2%
Environmental 0% 4%
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

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
New dwellings approved 495
across Port Stephens
same for both
Approvals change year on year -72%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
House price Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Income Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 53% of NSW
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 51% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW

Liveability

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
Grade B —
Score 63/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Nelsons Plains carries more bushfire risk (14 vs 0); Nelsons Plains carries more crime risk (67 vs 15).

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
14/100
Crime Low
15/100
 Moderate
67/100
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 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
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

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
Childcare 0 1

Mobility

Brandy Hill sits further from the CBD (175.2 km vs 170.6 km).

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
Walkability score 14/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 175.2 km
+3% vs other
 170.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 130 min 126 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2324
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 2324
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.

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
Car (driver) 66.9% / 57.7%
Brandy Hill — Car (driver): 66.9% Nelsons Plains — Car (driver): 57.7%
Worked from Home 29.9% / 29.2%
Brandy Hill — Worked from Home: 29.9% Nelsons Plains — Worked from Home: 29.2%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 8.5%
Brandy Hill — Car (passenger): 2.3% Nelsons Plains — Car (passenger): 8.5%
Walked Only 1.0% / 4.6%
Brandy Hill — Walked Only: 1.0% Nelsons Plains — Walked Only: 4.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.9%).

Setting

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
Elevation 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 0 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 17.3 km 13.1 km

NBN connectivity

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
Connectivity score 30/100
same for both
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
249 premises
 0%
116 premises

Climate

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
Annual rainfall 996 mm 1,181 mm
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C 28.7°C
Winter min (Jul) 7.1°C 7.5°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.72 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
Average residential rate $1,359/yr
same for both
Council Port Stephens
same for both

Federal electorate

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
Division Lyne
same for both
Member Alison Penfold
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Brandy Hill

Acreage

Nelsons Plains

Family Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Brandy Hill

Brandy Hill vs Wallalong Brandy Hill vs Seaham

Other comparisons with Nelsons Plains

Nelsons Plains vs Raymond Terrace Nelsons Plains vs Wallalong Nelsons Plains vs Seaham Nelsons Plains vs Hinton Nelsons Plains vs Millers Forest Nelsons Plains vs Eagleton
Full data on Brandy Hill Full data on Nelsons Plains
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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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