Cessnock vs Neath

Cessnock is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 55 in Neath. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Neath, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Cessnock: a median of $700,000, against $615,000 in Neath, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Neath tends to suit people living alone and older residents.

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

Cessnock

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (22 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (7 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • But Neath has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 84%)

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

First-home buyers

Neath

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($360,000 vs $525,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($615,000 vs $700,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Cessnock

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 11%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (27% vs 32%)
  • But Neath has cheaper rent ($255/wk vs $320/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Cessnock

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 26/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Cessnock

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (11 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (16% vs 4%)
  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 26/100)
  • But Neath has more residents already 65 and over (35% vs 21%)

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

Investors

Cessnock

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (7.4% vs -12.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Cessnock Neath
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.

Cessnock Neath
Walkability 88 / 26
Cessnock — Walkability: 88/100 Neath — Walkability: 26/100
Safety 11 / 9
Cessnock — Safety: 11/100 Neath — Safety: 9/100
Low fire risk 42 / 20
Cessnock — Low fire risk: 42/100 Neath — Low fire risk: 20/100

Demographics

Cessnock has more residents (16,300 vs 430); Cessnock has higher household incomes ($61,984 vs $41,184).

Cessnock Neath
Population 16,300
+97% vs other
 430
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.4% -12.2%
Median age 40 55
Median household income $61,984/yr
+34% vs other
 $41,184/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+20% vs other
 $255/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cessnock Neath
0-4 5.7% / 5.1%
Cessnock — 0-4: 5.7% Neath — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 11.4% / 8.4%
Cessnock — 5-14: 11.4% Neath — 5-14: 8.4%
15-19 5.4% / 3.0%
Cessnock — 15-19: 5.4% Neath — 15-19: 3.0%
20-24 6.3% / 5.1%
Cessnock — 20-24: 6.3% Neath — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 14.3% / 8.4%
Cessnock — 25-34: 14.3% Neath — 25-34: 8.4%
35-44 12.7% / 9.3%
Cessnock — 35-44: 12.7% Neath — 35-44: 9.3%
45-54 11.7% / 10.9%
Cessnock — 45-54: 11.7% Neath — 45-54: 10.9%
55-64 11.3% / 15.1%
Cessnock — 55-64: 11.3% Neath — 55-64: 15.1%
65-74 11.0% / 19.8%
Cessnock — 65-74: 11.0% Neath — 65-74: 19.8%
75-84 6.6% / 12.3%
Cessnock — 75-84: 6.6% Neath — 75-84: 12.3%
85+ 3.5% / 2.6%
Cessnock — 85+: 3.5% Neath — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cessnock 39.9% lone person
Cessnock — Lone Person: 39.9% Cessnock — Couple Families: 29.0% Cessnock — One Parent Families: 26.0% Cessnock — Group Household: 3.6% Cessnock — Other Families: 1.6%
Neath 57.0% lone person
Neath — Lone Person: 57.0% Neath — Couple Families: 18.1% Neath — One Parent Families: 16.8% Neath — Group Household: 5.4% Neath — Other Families: 2.7%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cessnock 39.1% renting
Cessnock — Owned Outright: 32.1% Cessnock — Mortgage: 28.8% Cessnock — Renting: 39.1%
Neath 11.2% renting
Neath — Owned Outright: 52.7% Neath — Mortgage: 36.2% Neath — Renting: 11.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cessnock Neath
Certificate III & IV 17.4% / 20.0%
Cessnock — Certificate III & IV: 17.4% Neath — Certificate III & IV: 20.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.8% / 7.0%
Cessnock — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8% Neath — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Bachelor Degree 4.2% / 2.1%
Cessnock — Bachelor Degree: 4.2% Neath — Bachelor Degree: 2.1%
Postgraduate Degree 0.8% / —
Cessnock — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8% Neath — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.7% / —
Cessnock — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7% Neath — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.0%).

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.

Cessnock Neath
England 1.8% / 3.3%
Cessnock — England: 1.8% Neath — England: 3.3%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.4%
Cessnock — New Zealand: 1.1% Neath — New Zealand: 1.4%
Scotland 0.4% / 1.9%
Cessnock — Scotland: 0.4% Neath — Scotland: 1.9%
Philippines 0.5% / 1.2%
Cessnock — Philippines: 0.5% Neath — Philippines: 1.2%
Netherlands — / 0.7%
Cessnock — Netherlands: not among its largest Neath — Netherlands: 0.7%
Thailand 0.3% / —
Cessnock — Thailand: 0.3% Neath — Thailand: 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.

Cessnock 84.1% houses
Cessnock — Houses: 84.1% Cessnock — Townhouses: 13.0% Cessnock — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
Neath 95.9% houses
Neath — Houses: 95.9% Neath — Townhouses: 2.1% Neath — Flats / Apartments: 2.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cessnock Neath
Median house price $700,000 $615,000
Median unit price $525,000 $360,000
Median land price $500,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 214 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.

Cessnock Neath
2 bed $620K / $608K
Cessnock — 2 bed: $620K (60 sales) Neath — 2 bed: $608K (6 sales)

60 vs 6 sales

3 bed $685K / $615K
Cessnock — 3 bed: $685K (233 sales) Neath — 3 bed: $615K (10 sales)

233 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Neath has more land zoned for conservation (28% vs 8%); Neath has more rural and farming land (64% vs 53%).

Cessnock Neath
Rural and farming 53% 64%
Environmental 8% 28%
Residential 24% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 2%
Parks and recreation 6% 0%
Industrial 1% 0%
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

Cessnock Neath
New dwellings approved 719
across Cessnock
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
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.

Cessnock Neath
Houses 4.1%
$600/wk on $755K
 —
Units 4.5%
$455/wk on $522K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Cessnock Neath
House price Higher than 24% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
Income Higher than 24% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW
Schools Higher than 9% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 34% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 79% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 44% of NSW —

Liveability

Cessnock is more walkable (88 vs 26).

Cessnock Neath
Grade D —
Score 24/100 —
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Neath carries more bushfire risk (80 vs 58).

Cessnock Neath
Bushfire Moderate
58/100
 High
80/100
Crime High
89/100
 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 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Cessnock Neath
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 4 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Cessnock

  • Cessnock East Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Cessnock West Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mount View High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Patrick's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Schools in Neath

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

Amenities in the suburb

Cessnock Neath
Supermarkets 4 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 0
Parks & reserves 22 0
Childcare 7 0
GPs 11 0
Pharmacies 4 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 7 0
Fuel stations 4 0
Waterways 11 0

Mobility

Cessnock Neath
Walkability score 88/100 26/100
Distance to Sydney 152.3 km 152.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 117 min 119 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 149.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 39.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2325
 0.4%
postcode 2326
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 51
postcode 2325
 56
postcode 2326

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.

Cessnock Neath
Car (driver) 78.6% / 85.8%
Cessnock — Car (driver): 78.6% Neath — Car (driver): 85.8%
Worked from Home 12.7% / 11.3%
Cessnock — Worked from Home: 12.7% Neath — Worked from Home: 11.3%
Car (passenger) 5.1% / 2.8%
Cessnock — Car (passenger): 5.1% Neath — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Walked Only 2.7% / —
Cessnock — Walked Only: 2.7% Neath — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bus 0.4% / —
Cessnock — Bus: 0.4% Neath — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (85.8%).

Setting

Cessnock Neath
Elevation 94 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 43 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 37.4 km 33.0 km

NBN connectivity

Cessnock Neath
Connectivity score 65/100 55/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 37%
7,577 premises
 18%
263 premises

Climate

Cessnock Neath
Annual rainfall 804 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.1°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Cessnock Neath
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

Cessnock Neath
Average residential rate $1,405/yr
same for both
Council Cessnock
same for both

Federal electorate

Cessnock Neath
Division Hunter
same for both
Member Dan Repacholi
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cessnock Neath
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cessnock

Parks Regional Centre

Neath

Acreage Affordable Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cessnock

Cessnock vs Abermain Cessnock vs Aberdare Cessnock vs Bellbird Cessnock vs Pokolbin Cessnock vs Kearsley Cessnock vs Bellbird Heights

Other comparisons with Neath

Neath vs Abermain Neath vs Aberdare Neath vs Kearsley Neath vs Elrington
Full data on Cessnock Full data on Neath
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or