Dum Dum vs Smiths Creek

Smiths Creek is the younger of the two, with a median age of 47 against 59 in Dum Dum. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Dum Dum, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Smiths Creek: a median of $1.95 million, against $1.62 million in Dum Dum, though rent is higher in Dum Dum. On these figures, Dum Dum tends to suit couples, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Smiths Creek 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

Dum Dum

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is already more of a family suburb (82% vs 56%)

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

First-home buyers

Dum Dum

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 36%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,625,000 vs $1,950,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Dum Dum leaves renters under less rental stress (22% vs 29%)
  • Smiths Creek has cheaper rent ($345/wk vs $380/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Smiths Creek

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (516 min vs 527 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (794.9 km vs 803.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Dum Dum

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (36% vs 20%)

Weighs who already lives there, GPs, and walkability.

Investors

Smiths Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.6% vs 6.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
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.

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
Walkability 5 / 8
Dum Dum — Walkability: 5/100 Smiths Creek — Walkability: 8/100
Low fire risk 38 / 100
Dum Dum — Low fire risk: 38/100 Smiths Creek — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Smiths Creek has more residents (345 vs 125); Dum Dum has higher household incomes ($92,092 vs $61,724).

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
Population 125 345
+176% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.8% +14.6%
Median age 59 47
Median household income $92,092/yr
+33% vs other
 $61,724/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk
+9% vs other
 $345/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
0-4 4.8% / 2.9%
Dum Dum — 0-4: 4.8% Smiths Creek — 0-4: 2.9%
5-14 10.4% / 10.7%
Dum Dum — 5-14: 10.4% Smiths Creek — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 5.6% / 11.0%
Dum Dum — 15-19: 5.6% Smiths Creek — 15-19: 11.0%
20-24 4.0% / 3.2%
Dum Dum — 20-24: 4.0% Smiths Creek — 20-24: 3.2%
25-34 — / 6.1%
Dum Dum — 25-34: not among its largest Smiths Creek — 25-34: 6.1%
35-44 8.0% / 9.9%
Dum Dum — 35-44: 8.0% Smiths Creek — 35-44: 9.9%
45-54 19.2% / 20.0%
Dum Dum — 45-54: 19.2% Smiths Creek — 45-54: 20.0%
55-64 27.2% / 16.5%
Dum Dum — 55-64: 27.2% Smiths Creek — 55-64: 16.5%
65-74 22.4% / 11.9%
Dum Dum — 65-74: 22.4% Smiths Creek — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 10.4% / 7.8%
Dum Dum — 75-84: 10.4% Smiths Creek — 75-84: 7.8%
85+ 3.2% / —
Dum Dum — 85+: 3.2% Smiths Creek — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Dum Dum 64.7% couple families
Dum Dum — Couple Families: 64.7% Dum Dum — Lone Person: 17.6% Dum Dum — One Parent Families: 17.6% Dum Dum — Group Household: 0.0% Dum Dum — Other Families: 0.0%
Smiths Creek 40.0% couple families
Smiths Creek — Couple Families: 40.0% Smiths Creek — Lone Person: 32.2% Smiths Creek — One Parent Families: 15.6% Smiths Creek — Group Household: 8.9% Smiths Creek — Other Families: 3.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Dum Dum 12.2% renting
Dum Dum — Owned Outright: 63.4% Dum Dum — Mortgage: 24.4% Dum Dum — Renting: 12.2%
Smiths Creek 13.5% renting
Smiths Creek — Owned Outright: 53.2% Smiths Creek — Mortgage: 33.3% Smiths Creek — Renting: 13.5%
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.

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
England 8.0% / 8.1%
Dum Dum — England: 8.0% Smiths Creek — England: 8.1%
New Zealand 2.4% / 0.9%
Dum Dum — New Zealand: 2.4% Smiths Creek — New Zealand: 0.9%
Philippines — / 1.2%
Dum Dum — Philippines: not among its largest Smiths Creek — Philippines: 1.2%
Germany — / 1.2%
Dum Dum — Germany: not among its largest Smiths Creek — Germany: 1.2%
Scotland — / 0.9%
Dum Dum — Scotland: not among its largest Smiths Creek — Scotland: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.1%).

Qualifications

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

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
Certificate III & IV 16.0% / 15.1%
Dum Dum — Certificate III & IV: 16.0% Smiths Creek — Certificate III & IV: 15.1%
Bachelor Degree 15.2% / 11.9%
Dum Dum — Bachelor Degree: 15.2% Smiths Creek — Bachelor Degree: 11.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 12.0% / 9.0%
Dum Dum — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 12.0% Smiths Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.0% / 3.2%
Dum Dum — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0% Smiths Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%
Postgraduate Degree 3.2% / 1.7%
Dum Dum — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2% Smiths Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Dum Dum 104.8% houses
Dum Dum — Houses: 104.8% Dum Dum — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Smiths Creek 97.5% houses
Smiths Creek — Houses: 97.5% Smiths Creek — Flats / Apartments: 2.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
Median house price $1,625,000 $1,950,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both

Zoning mix

Smiths Creek has more rural and farming land (62% vs 23%); Smiths Creek has more land zoned for conservation (25% vs 8%).

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
Other and special use 69% 6%
Rural and farming 23% 62%
Environmental 8% 25%
Residential 0% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 3%
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

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
New dwellings approved 331
across Tweed
same for both
Approvals change year on year -50%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
House price Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Income Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 47% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW

Liveability

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Dum Dum carries more bushfire risk (62 vs 0).

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
Bushfire Moderate
62/100
 None
0/100
Crime 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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
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

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
Parks & reserves 1 0
Childcare 1 0
Waterways 0 7

Mobility

Dum Dum sits further from the CBD (803.6 km vs 794.9 km).

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
Walkability score 5/100 8/100
Distance to Sydney 803.6 km
+1% vs other
 794.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 527 min 516 min
Public transport score 21/100
Bus
 20/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 4.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 3.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2484
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 76
postcode 2484
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.

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
Car (driver) 67.5% / 66.1%
Dum Dum — Car (driver): 67.5% Smiths Creek — Car (driver): 66.1%
Worked from Home 32.5% / 25.4%
Dum Dum — Worked from Home: 32.5% Smiths Creek — Worked from Home: 25.4%
Walked Only — / 5.1%
Dum Dum — Walked Only: not among its largest Smiths Creek — Walked Only: 5.1%
Car (passenger) — / 3.4%
Dum Dum — Car (passenger): not among its largest Smiths Creek — Car (passenger): 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.5%).

Setting

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
Elevation 378 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 73 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 20.5 km 17.5 km

NBN connectivity

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
Connectivity score 28/100 29/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
55 premises
 0%
131 premises

Climate

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
Annual rainfall 1,569 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.1°C
same for both

Council rates

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
Average residential rate $1,745/yr
same for both
Council Tweed
same for both

Federal electorate

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
Division Richmond
same for both
Member Justine Elliot
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Dum Dum Smiths Creek
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Dum Dum

Retirees Rural

Smiths Creek

Premium River Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Dum Dum

Dum Dum vs Stokers Siding Dum Dum vs Uki Dum Dum vs Dunbible Dum Dum vs Byangum Dum Dum vs Mount Warning

Other comparisons with Smiths Creek

Smiths Creek vs Stokers Siding Smiths Creek vs Uki Smiths Creek vs Upper Burringbar Smiths Creek vs Rowlands Creek Smiths Creek vs Chowan Creek
Full data on Dum Dum Full data on Smiths Creek
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.

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