Hartley vs South Bowenfels

In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Hartley, most households are couple families. In South Bowenfels, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Hartley: a median of $1.37 million, against $928,000 in South Bowenfels, though rent is higher in South Bowenfels. On these figures, South Bowenfels tends to suit older residents and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

  • Hartley has more separate houses rather than flats (90% vs 70%)
  • South Bowenfels carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 43/100)

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

First-home buyers

South Bowenfels

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($927,500 vs $1,367,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hartley

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (15% vs 23%)
  • has cheaper rent ($283/wk vs $370/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

South Bowenfels

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (154.5 km vs 158.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

South Bowenfels

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (30% vs 10%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (32% vs 20%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Hartley South Bowenfels
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.

Hartley South Bowenfels
Walkability 5 / 0
Hartley — Walkability: 5/100 South Bowenfels — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 57 / 68
Hartley — Safety: 57/100 South Bowenfels — Safety: 68/100
Low fire risk 12 / 61
Hartley — Low fire risk: 12/100 South Bowenfels — Low fire risk: 61/100

Demographics

South Bowenfels has more residents (1,326 vs 478); South Bowenfels rents higher ($370/wk vs $283/wk).

Hartley South Bowenfels
Population 478 1,326
+177% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.9% +14.1%
Median age 48
same for both
Median household income $99,112/yr
+16% vs other
 $83,616/yr
Median weekly rent $283/wk $370/wk
+31% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hartley South Bowenfels
0-4 5.2% / 6.2%
Hartley — 0-4: 5.2% South Bowenfels — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 12.8% / 12.3%
Hartley — 5-14: 12.8% South Bowenfels — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 5.4% / 4.9%
Hartley — 15-19: 5.4% South Bowenfels — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 3.8% / 3.5%
Hartley — 20-24: 3.8% South Bowenfels — 20-24: 3.5%
25-34 6.9% / 10.3%
Hartley — 25-34: 6.9% South Bowenfels — 25-34: 10.3%
35-44 11.1% / 9.6%
Hartley — 35-44: 11.1% South Bowenfels — 35-44: 9.6%
45-54 15.7% / 9.9%
Hartley — 45-54: 15.7% South Bowenfels — 45-54: 9.9%
55-64 19.0% / 11.8%
Hartley — 55-64: 19.0% South Bowenfels — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 12.6% / 15.5%
Hartley — 65-74: 12.6% South Bowenfels — 65-74: 15.5%
75-84 7.9% / 11.8%
Hartley — 75-84: 7.9% South Bowenfels — 75-84: 11.8%
85+ — / 4.3%
Hartley — 85+: not among its largest South Bowenfels — 85+: 4.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Hartley 55.0% couple families
Hartley — Couple Families: 55.0% Hartley — Lone Person: 36.7% Hartley — One Parent Families: 8.3% Hartley — Group Household: 0.0%
South Bowenfels 47.1% couple families
South Bowenfels — Couple Families: 47.1% South Bowenfels — Lone Person: 41.0% South Bowenfels — One Parent Families: 9.2% South Bowenfels — Group Household: 2.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Hartley 9.1% renting
Hartley — Owned Outright: 46.6% Hartley — Mortgage: 44.3% Hartley — Renting: 9.1%
South Bowenfels 7.4% renting
South Bowenfels — Owned Outright: 52.1% South Bowenfels — Mortgage: 40.5% South Bowenfels — Renting: 7.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Hartley South Bowenfels
Certificate III & IV 20.3% / 18.9%
Hartley — Certificate III & IV: 20.3% South Bowenfels — Certificate III & IV: 18.9%
Bachelor Degree 11.7% / 8.7%
Hartley — Bachelor Degree: 11.7% South Bowenfels — Bachelor Degree: 8.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 8.4%
Hartley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% South Bowenfels — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 2.9% / 2.6%
Hartley — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9% South Bowenfels — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 2.2%
Hartley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% South Bowenfels — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.3%).

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.

Hartley South Bowenfels
England 2.7% / 3.3%
Hartley — England: 2.7% South Bowenfels — England: 3.3%
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.2%
Hartley — New Zealand: 1.9% South Bowenfels — New Zealand: 1.2%
Scotland 1.7% / 1.0%
Hartley — Scotland: 1.7% South Bowenfels — Scotland: 1.0%
Thailand 1.0% / 0.5%
Hartley — Thailand: 1.0% South Bowenfels — Thailand: 0.5%
Germany 1.0% / 0.4%
Hartley — Germany: 1.0% South Bowenfels — Germany: 0.4%
Philippines — / 0.6%
Hartley — Philippines: not among its largest South Bowenfels — Philippines: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Hartley 90.3% houses
Hartley — Houses: 90.3% Hartley — Townhouses: 0.0% Hartley — Flats / Apartments: 9.7%
South Bowenfels 70.5% houses
South Bowenfels — Houses: 70.5% South Bowenfels — Townhouses: 29.5% South Bowenfels — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Hartley South Bowenfels
Median house price $1,367,500 $927,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $487,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 115 days
from 7 sales

Zoning mix

Hartley has more land zoned for conservation (23% vs 7%).

Hartley South Bowenfels
Rural and farming 70% 72%
Environmental 23% 7%
Residential 5% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 8%
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

Hartley South Bowenfels
New dwellings approved 55
across Lithgow
same for both
Approvals change year on year +0%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Hartley South Bowenfels
House price Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
Income Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 61% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW

Liveability

Hartley South Bowenfels
Grade — C
Score — 44/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
same for both

Risk profile

Hartley carries more bushfire risk (88 vs 39); Hartley carries more crime risk (43 vs 32).

Hartley South Bowenfels
Bushfire High
88/100
 Low
39/100
Crime Moderate
43/100
 Low
32/100
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
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Hartley South Bowenfels
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

Hartley South Bowenfels
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 3 5
GPs 0 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 14 10

Mobility

Hartley sits further from the CBD (158.4 km vs 154.5 km).

Hartley South Bowenfels
Walkability score 5/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 158.4 km
+2% vs other
 154.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 143 min 142 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2790
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2790
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.

Hartley South Bowenfels
Car (driver) 68.0% / 85.0%
Hartley — Car (driver): 68.0% South Bowenfels — Car (driver): 85.0%
Worked from Home 30.5% / 10.4%
Hartley — Worked from Home: 30.5% South Bowenfels — Worked from Home: 10.4%
Car (passenger) 1.5% / 3.6%
Hartley — Car (passenger): 1.5% South Bowenfels — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Walked Only — / 1.1%
Hartley — Walked Only: not among its largest South Bowenfels — Walked Only: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (85.0%).

Setting

Hartley South Bowenfels
Elevation 761 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 890 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Hartley South Bowenfels
Connectivity score 29/100 71/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
186 premises
 42%
638 premises

Climate

Hartley South Bowenfels
Annual rainfall 1,147 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 23.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.2°C
same for both

Council rates

Hartley South Bowenfels
Average residential rate $1,150/yr
same for both
Council Lithgow
same for both

Federal electorate

Hartley South Bowenfels
Division Calare
same for both
Member Andrew Gee
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Hartley South Bowenfels
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Hartley

Rural

South Bowenfels

Retirees Rural Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hartley

Hartley vs Lithgow Hartley vs Little Hartley Hartley vs Vale Of Clwydd Hartley vs Clarence Hartley vs Rydal Hartley vs Hartley Vale

Other comparisons with South Bowenfels

South Bowenfels vs Bowenfels South Bowenfels vs South Littleton South Bowenfels vs Rydal
Full data on Hartley Full data on South Bowenfels
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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