Dorrigo vs Fernbrook

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Dorrigo, most households are people living alone. In Fernbrook, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Fernbrook: a median of $4.1 million, against $630,000 in Dorrigo, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Dorrigo tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Fernbrook suits share households.

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

Dorrigo

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • But Fernbrook carries lower crime risk (28/100 vs 70/100)

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

  • Dorrigo has cheaper houses ($630,000 vs $4,100,000)
  • Fernbrook leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 32%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Dorrigo has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $330/wk)
  • Fernbrook leaves renters under less rental stress (26% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

Dorrigo

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (21/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (374 min vs 384 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (547.4 km vs 557.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Dorrigo

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (21/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • But Fernbrook carries lower crime risk (28/100 vs 70/100)

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

Investors

Fernbrook

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (18.0% vs 1.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Dorrigo Fernbrook
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.

Dorrigo Fernbrook
Walkability 21 / 0
Dorrigo — Walkability: 21/100 Fernbrook — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 30 / 72
Dorrigo — Safety: 30/100 Fernbrook — Safety: 72/100
Low fire risk 100 / 86
Dorrigo — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fernbrook — Low fire risk: 86/100

Demographics

Dorrigo has more residents (1,214 vs 131); Fernbrook has higher household incomes ($66,092 vs $48,100).

Dorrigo Fernbrook
Population 1,214
+89% vs other
 131
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.9% +18.0%
Median age 56 58
Median household income $48,100/yr $66,092/yr
+37% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $330/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Dorrigo Fernbrook
0-4 4.5% / 3.8%
Dorrigo — 0-4: 4.5% Fernbrook — 0-4: 3.8%
5-14 10.0% / 9.2%
Dorrigo — 5-14: 10.0% Fernbrook — 5-14: 9.2%
15-19 4.3% / —
Dorrigo — 15-19: 4.3% Fernbrook — 15-19: not among its largest
20-24 2.5% / —
Dorrigo — 20-24: 2.5% Fernbrook — 20-24: not among its largest
25-34 7.2% / 14.5%
Dorrigo — 25-34: 7.2% Fernbrook — 25-34: 14.5%
35-44 7.4% / 13.0%
Dorrigo — 35-44: 7.4% Fernbrook — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 11.6% / 3.1%
Dorrigo — 45-54: 11.6% Fernbrook — 45-54: 3.1%
55-64 16.9% / 28.2%
Dorrigo — 55-64: 16.9% Fernbrook — 55-64: 28.2%
65-74 16.6% / 26.0%
Dorrigo — 65-74: 16.6% Fernbrook — 65-74: 26.0%
75-84 13.1% / 5.3%
Dorrigo — 75-84: 13.1% Fernbrook — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 5.0% / —
Dorrigo — 85+: 5.0% Fernbrook — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Dorrigo 57.2% lone person
Dorrigo — Lone Person: 57.2% Dorrigo — Couple Families: 23.3% Dorrigo — One Parent Families: 16.0% Dorrigo — Group Household: 2.7% Dorrigo — Other Families: 0.8%
Fernbrook 53.6% lone person
Fernbrook — Lone Person: 53.6% Fernbrook — Couple Families: 21.4% Fernbrook — One Parent Families: 14.3% Fernbrook — Group Household: 10.7% Fernbrook — 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.

Dorrigo 21.8% renting
Dorrigo — Owned Outright: 56.9% Dorrigo — Mortgage: 21.3% Dorrigo — Renting: 21.8%
Fernbrook 18.0% renting
Fernbrook — Owned Outright: 58.0% Fernbrook — Mortgage: 24.0% Fernbrook — Renting: 18.0%
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.

Dorrigo Fernbrook
England 4.7% / 4.6%
Dorrigo — England: 4.7% Fernbrook — England: 4.6%
New Zealand 1.3% / —
Dorrigo — New Zealand: 1.3% Fernbrook — New Zealand: not among its largest
Germany 1.2% / —
Dorrigo — Germany: 1.2% Fernbrook — Germany: not among its largest
South Africa 0.7% / —
Dorrigo — South Africa: 0.7% Fernbrook — South Africa: not among its largest
Philippines 0.5% / —
Dorrigo — Philippines: 0.5% Fernbrook — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.7%).

Qualifications

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

Dorrigo Fernbrook
Certificate III & IV 18.0% / 17.6%
Dorrigo — Certificate III & IV: 18.0% Fernbrook — Certificate III & IV: 17.6%
Bachelor Degree 8.2% / 10.7%
Dorrigo — Bachelor Degree: 8.2% Fernbrook — Bachelor Degree: 10.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.7% / 10.7%
Dorrigo — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7% Fernbrook — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.7%
Postgraduate Degree 2.6% / 3.1%
Dorrigo — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6% Fernbrook — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / —
Dorrigo — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Fernbrook — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Dorrigo 93.4% houses
Dorrigo — Houses: 93.4% Dorrigo — Flats / Apartments: 3.7% Dorrigo — Townhouses: 2.9%
Fernbrook 89.3% houses
Fernbrook — Houses: 89.3% Fernbrook — Flats / Apartments: 10.7% Fernbrook — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Dorrigo Fernbrook
Median house price $630,000 $4,100,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $262,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 17 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Fernbrook has more land zoned for conservation (19% vs 1%).

Dorrigo Fernbrook
Rural and farming 89% 81%
Environmental 1% 19%
Residential 7% 0%
Parks and recreation 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

Dorrigo Fernbrook
New dwellings approved 40
across Bellingen
same for both
Approvals change year on year +12%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Dorrigo Fernbrook
House price Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Income Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
Schools Higher than 71% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 10% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 1% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 37% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW

Liveability

Dorrigo is more walkable (21 vs 0).

Dorrigo Fernbrook
Grade C —
Score 44/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Fernbrook carries more bushfire risk (14 vs 0); Dorrigo carries more crime risk (70 vs 28).

Dorrigo Fernbrook
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
14/100
Crime High
70/100
 Low
28/100
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Dorrigo Fernbrook
Inside the suburb 3 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Dorrigo

  • Dorrigo Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mount St John Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Dorrigo High School Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Fernbrook

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

Amenities in the suburb

Dorrigo Fernbrook
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 5 0
Parks & reserves 8 0
Childcare 1 0
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 14 12

Mobility

Fernbrook sits further from the CBD (557.2 km vs 547.4 km).

Dorrigo Fernbrook
Walkability score 21/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 547.4 km 557.2 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 374 min 384 min
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2453
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 55
postcode 2453
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.

Dorrigo Fernbrook
Car (driver) 67.2% / 55.8%
Dorrigo — Car (driver): 67.2% Fernbrook — Car (driver): 55.8%
Worked from Home 16.9% / 36.5%
Dorrigo — Worked from Home: 16.9% Fernbrook — Worked from Home: 36.5%
Walked Only 8.1% / 7.7%
Dorrigo — Walked Only: 8.1% Fernbrook — Walked Only: 7.7%
Car (passenger) 6.2% / —
Dorrigo — Car (passenger): 6.2% Fernbrook — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Bicycle 1.6% / —
Dorrigo — Bicycle: 1.6% Fernbrook — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.2%).

Setting

Dorrigo Fernbrook
Elevation 744 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 822 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 37.2 km 43.1 km

NBN connectivity

Dorrigo Fernbrook
Connectivity score 71/100 28/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
813 premises
 0%
66 premises

Council rates

Dorrigo Fernbrook
Average residential rate $1,592/yr
same for both
Council Bellingen
same for both

Federal electorate

Dorrigo Fernbrook
Division Cowper
same for both
Member Pat Conaghan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Dorrigo Fernbrook
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Dorrigo

Acreage Affordable Retirees River

Fernbrook

Luxury Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Dorrigo

Dorrigo vs North Dorrigo Dorrigo vs Megan Dorrigo vs Bostobrick Dorrigo vs Bielsdown Hills Dorrigo vs Dorrigo Mountain

Other comparisons with Fernbrook

Fernbrook vs Darkwood Fernbrook vs Bostobrick Fernbrook vs Deer Vale Fernbrook vs Bielsdown Hills
Full data on Dorrigo Full data on Fernbrook
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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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