Dunbogan vs Laurieton

Dunbogan is the younger of the two, with a median age of 63 against 67 in Laurieton. In both, most households own their home and most households are people living alone. In Dunbogan, the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Dunbogan: a median of $840,000, against $770,000 in Laurieton, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Laurieton 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Dunbogan carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 68/100)
  • Laurieton has more childcare (3 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Laurieton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (29% vs 11%)
  • has cheaper rent ($315/wk vs $370/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Laurieton

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (74/100 vs 10/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (244 min vs 252 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (360.4 km vs 364 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Laurieton

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (74/100 vs 10/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (46% vs 7%)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • But Dunbogan carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 68/100)

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

Investors

Laurieton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.0% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Dunbogan Laurieton
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.

Dunbogan Laurieton
Walkability 10 / 74
Dunbogan — Walkability: 10/100 Laurieton — Walkability: 74/100
Safety 66 / 32
Dunbogan — Safety: 66/100 Laurieton — Safety: 32/100
Low fire risk 13 / 22
Dunbogan — Low fire risk: 13/100 Laurieton — Low fire risk: 22/100

Demographics

Laurieton has more residents (2,012 vs 1,020); Dunbogan has higher household incomes ($49,244 vs $39,260).

Dunbogan Laurieton
Population 1,020 2,012
+97% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.8% +1.3%
Median age 63 67
Median household income $49,244/yr
+20% vs other
 $39,260/yr
Median weekly rent $370/wk
+15% vs other
 $315/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Dunbogan Laurieton
0-4 1.9% / 1.2%
Dunbogan — 0-4: 1.9% Laurieton — 0-4: 1.2%
5-14 6.3% / 5.5%
Dunbogan — 5-14: 6.3% Laurieton — 5-14: 5.5%
15-19 3.7% / 2.8%
Dunbogan — 15-19: 3.7% Laurieton — 15-19: 2.8%
20-24 2.7% / 2.0%
Dunbogan — 20-24: 2.7% Laurieton — 20-24: 2.0%
25-34 4.1% / 3.8%
Dunbogan — 25-34: 4.1% Laurieton — 25-34: 3.8%
35-44 5.9% / 4.3%
Dunbogan — 35-44: 5.9% Laurieton — 35-44: 4.3%
45-54 9.1% / 7.8%
Dunbogan — 45-54: 9.1% Laurieton — 45-54: 7.8%
55-64 21.9% / 16.3%
Dunbogan — 55-64: 21.9% Laurieton — 55-64: 16.3%
65-74 27.6% / 23.6%
Dunbogan — 65-74: 27.6% Laurieton — 65-74: 23.6%
75-84 14.2% / 20.5%
Dunbogan — 75-84: 14.2% Laurieton — 75-84: 20.5%
85+ 3.0% / 12.2%
Dunbogan — 85+: 3.0% Laurieton — 85+: 12.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Dunbogan 55.1% lone person
Dunbogan — Lone Person: 55.1% Dunbogan — Couple Families: 22.6% Dunbogan — One Parent Families: 15.6% Dunbogan — Group Household: 6.6%
Laurieton 72.1% lone person
Laurieton — Lone Person: 72.1% Laurieton — Couple Families: 11.1% Laurieton — One Parent Families: 12.3% Laurieton — Group Household: 4.4%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Dunbogan 10.7% renting
Dunbogan — Owned Outright: 69.0% Dunbogan — Mortgage: 20.3% Dunbogan — Renting: 10.7%
Laurieton 29.3% renting
Laurieton — Owned Outright: 58.7% Laurieton — Mortgage: 12.0% Laurieton — Renting: 29.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Dunbogan Laurieton
Certificate III & IV 22.8% / 19.2%
Dunbogan — Certificate III & IV: 22.8% Laurieton — Certificate III & IV: 19.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 7.1%
Dunbogan — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Laurieton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Bachelor Degree 8.9% / 6.0%
Dunbogan — Bachelor Degree: 8.9% Laurieton — Bachelor Degree: 6.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.9% / 1.5%
Dunbogan — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9% Laurieton — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 1.1%
Dunbogan — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Laurieton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.8%).

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.

Dunbogan Laurieton
England 5.5% / 3.9%
Dunbogan — England: 5.5% Laurieton — England: 3.9%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.2%
Dunbogan — New Zealand: 1.2% Laurieton — New Zealand: 1.2%
Germany 0.5% / 0.5%
Dunbogan — Germany: 0.5% Laurieton — Germany: 0.5%
Sri Lanka 0.6% / 0.2%
Dunbogan — Sri Lanka: 0.6% Laurieton — Sri Lanka: 0.2%
Scotland — / 0.7%
Dunbogan — Scotland: not among its largest Laurieton — Scotland: 0.7%
Philippines 0.5% / —
Dunbogan — Philippines: 0.5% Laurieton — Philippines: not among its largest
India — / 0.5%
Dunbogan — India: not among its largest Laurieton — India: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Dunbogan 92.6% houses
Dunbogan — Houses: 92.6% Dunbogan — Flats / Apartments: 7.4% Dunbogan — Townhouses: 0.0%
Laurieton 54.0% houses
Laurieton — Houses: 54.0% Laurieton — Flats / Apartments: 20.8% Laurieton — Townhouses: 25.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Dunbogan Laurieton
Median house price $840,000 $770,000
Median unit price $517,500 $530,000
Median land price $585,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 48 days
from 17 sales
 36 days
from 19 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.

Dunbogan Laurieton
3 bed $765K / $765K
Dunbogan — 3 bed: $765K (9 sales) Laurieton — 3 bed: $765K (19 sales)

9 vs 19 sales

4 bed $920K / $980K
Dunbogan — 4 bed: $920K (13 sales) Laurieton — 4 bed: $980K (11 sales)

13 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Dunbogan has more rural and farming land (31% vs 0%).

Dunbogan Laurieton
Environmental 57% 60%
Rural and farming 31% 0%
Residential 10% 29%
Parks and recreation 0% 6%
Commercial 0% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 1%
Industrial 0% 1%
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

Dunbogan Laurieton
New dwellings approved 546
across Port Macquarie-Hastings
same for both
Approvals change year on year +33%
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.

Dunbogan Laurieton
Houses 2.9%
$670/wk on $1.2M
 4.0%
$600/wk on $784K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Dunbogan Laurieton
House price Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
Income Higher than 10% of NSW Higher than 4% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 37% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW

Liveability

Laurieton is more walkable (74 vs 10).

Dunbogan Laurieton
Grade D
same for both
Score 21/100
same for both
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Laurieton carries more crime risk (68 vs 34).

Dunbogan Laurieton
Bushfire High
87/100
 High
78/100
Crime Low
34/100
 Moderate
68/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
44/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Dunbogan Laurieton
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Dunbogan

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

Schools in Laurieton

  • Laurieton Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Joseph's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Dunbogan Laurieton
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 9
Parks & reserves 3 7
Childcare 0 3
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 4 1

Mobility

Dunbogan sits further from the CBD (364 km vs 360.4 km).

Dunbogan Laurieton
Walkability score 10/100 74/100
Distance to Sydney 364 km 360.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 252 min 244 min
Public transport score 23/100
Bus
 35/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 5.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 9.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 1.5 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2443
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 64
postcode 2443
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.

Dunbogan Laurieton
Car (driver) 72.3% / 73.3%
Dunbogan — Car (driver): 72.3% Laurieton — Car (driver): 73.3%
Worked from Home 21.8% / 12.3%
Dunbogan — Worked from Home: 21.8% Laurieton — Worked from Home: 12.3%
Walked Only 2.2% / 9.6%
Dunbogan — Walked Only: 2.2% Laurieton — Walked Only: 9.6%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 4.8%
Dunbogan — Car (passenger): 3.7% Laurieton — Car (passenger): 4.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.3%).

Setting

Dunbogan Laurieton
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 855 m
2.8 km to a named beach
 3.2 km
3.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Dunbogan Laurieton
Connectivity score 66/100 55/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 39%
755 premises
 18%
1,545 premises

Climate

Dunbogan Laurieton
Annual rainfall 1,331 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Dunbogan Laurieton
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 11.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.92 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Dunbogan Laurieton
Average residential rate $1,325/yr
same for both
Council Port Macquarie-Hastings
same for both

Federal electorate

Dunbogan Laurieton
Division Lyne
same for both
Member Alison Penfold
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Dunbogan Laurieton
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Dunbogan

Acreage Coastal Retirees

Laurieton

Parks Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Dunbogan

Dunbogan vs North Haven Dunbogan vs Camden Head

Other comparisons with Laurieton

Laurieton vs North Haven Laurieton vs West Haven
Full data on Dunbogan Full data on Laurieton
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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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