Lochiel vs Pambula

Lochiel is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 54 in Pambula. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Lochiel, most households are couple families. In Pambula, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Lochiel: a median of $1.2 million, against $765,000 in Pambula, though rent is higher in Pambula. On these figures, Lochiel tends to suit families with children and couples, while Pambula suits people living alone, 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

  • Lochiel carries lower crime risk (13/100 vs 39/100)
  • Pambula has more parks and reserves (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Pambula

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($765,000 vs $1,200,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Lochiel

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 28%)
  • has cheaper rent ($260/wk vs $313/wk)
  • But Pambula has a bigger rental market to choose from (22% vs 9%)

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

Commuting to the city

Pambula

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (77/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (365 min vs 375 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (528.2 km vs 537 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Pambula

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (77/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (28% vs 1%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • But Lochiel carries lower crime risk (13/100 vs 39/100)

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

Investors

Lochiel

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.1% vs 3.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Lochiel Pambula
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.

Lochiel Pambula
Walkability 0 / 77
Lochiel — Walkability: 0/100 Pambula — Walkability: 77/100
Safety 87 / 61
Lochiel — Safety: 87/100 Pambula — Safety: 61/100
Low fire risk 69 / 100
Lochiel — Low fire risk: 69/100 Pambula — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Pambula has more residents (1,002 vs 411); Lochiel has higher household incomes ($82,472 vs $58,084).

Lochiel Pambula
Population 411 1,002
+144% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.1% +3.3%
Median age 44 54
Median household income $82,472/yr
+30% vs other
 $58,084/yr
Median weekly rent $260/wk $313/wk
+20% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lochiel Pambula
0-4 5.1% / 4.6%
Lochiel — 0-4: 5.1% Pambula — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 17.0% / 10.4%
Lochiel — 5-14: 17.0% Pambula — 5-14: 10.4%
15-19 4.9% / 5.8%
Lochiel — 15-19: 4.9% Pambula — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 2.4% / 3.7%
Lochiel — 20-24: 2.4% Pambula — 20-24: 3.7%
25-34 8.5% / 8.1%
Lochiel — 25-34: 8.5% Pambula — 25-34: 8.1%
35-44 11.4% / 7.0%
Lochiel — 35-44: 11.4% Pambula — 35-44: 7.0%
45-54 15.8% / 10.6%
Lochiel — 45-54: 15.8% Pambula — 45-54: 10.6%
55-64 17.3% / 16.7%
Lochiel — 55-64: 17.3% Pambula — 55-64: 16.7%
65-74 12.4% / 15.6%
Lochiel — 65-74: 12.4% Pambula — 65-74: 15.6%
75-84 2.2% / 9.8%
Lochiel — 75-84: 2.2% Pambula — 75-84: 9.8%
85+ 1.0% / 7.9%
Lochiel — 85+: 1.0% Pambula — 85+: 7.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lochiel 59.8% couple families
Lochiel — Couple Families: 59.8% Lochiel — Lone Person: 25.0% Lochiel — One Parent Families: 9.8% Lochiel — Group Household: 5.4%
Pambula 30.7% couple families
Pambula — Couple Families: 30.7% Pambula — Lone Person: 49.4% Pambula — One Parent Families: 17.2% Pambula — Group Household: 2.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lochiel 9.3% renting
Lochiel — Owned Outright: 49.6% Lochiel — Mortgage: 41.1% Lochiel — Renting: 9.3%
Pambula 22.4% renting
Pambula — Owned Outright: 51.2% Pambula — Mortgage: 26.4% Pambula — Renting: 22.4%
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.

Lochiel Pambula
England 2.9% / 4.5%
Lochiel — England: 2.9% Pambula — England: 4.5%
New Zealand 0.7% / 1.1%
Lochiel — New Zealand: 0.7% Pambula — New Zealand: 1.1%
Scotland — / 0.9%
Lochiel — Scotland: not among its largest Pambula — Scotland: 0.9%
France — / 0.6%
Lochiel — France: not among its largest Pambula — France: 0.6%
Ireland — / 0.5%
Lochiel — Ireland: not among its largest Pambula — Ireland: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

Qualifications

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

Lochiel Pambula
Certificate III & IV 20.0% / 18.2%
Lochiel — Certificate III & IV: 20.0% Pambula — Certificate III & IV: 18.2%
Bachelor Degree 10.9% / 8.1%
Lochiel — Bachelor Degree: 10.9% Pambula — Bachelor Degree: 8.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 6.7%
Lochiel — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Pambula — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 2.1%
Lochiel — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Pambula — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%
Postgraduate Degree 2.7% / 1.1%
Lochiel — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7% Pambula — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lochiel 99.2% houses
Lochiel — Houses: 99.2% Lochiel — Townhouses: 0.0% Lochiel — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Pambula 72.3% houses
Pambula — Houses: 72.3% Pambula — Townhouses: 22.0% Pambula — Flats / Apartments: 5.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Lochiel Pambula
Median house price $1,200,000 $765,000
Median unit price — $537,500
Median land price — $307,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 103 days
from 11 sales

Zoning mix

Lochiel has more rural and farming land (85% vs 11%); Pambula has more land zoned for conservation (65% vs 14%).

Lochiel Pambula
Rural and farming 85% 11%
Environmental 14% 65%
Residential 0% 9%
Parks and recreation 0% 6%
Industrial 0% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 3%
Commercial 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

Lochiel Pambula
New dwellings approved 109
across Bega Valley
same for both
Approvals change year on year -32%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Lochiel Pambula
House price Higher than 48% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Income Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 52% of NSW
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 40% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW

Liveability

Pambula is more walkable (77 vs 0).

Lochiel Pambula
Grade — B
Score — 51/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Lochiel carries more bushfire risk (31 vs 0); Pambula carries more crime risk (39 vs 13).

Lochiel Pambula
Bushfire Low
31/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
13/100
 Low
39/100
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
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Lochiel Pambula
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Lochiel

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

Schools in Pambula

  • Pambula Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Pambula Beach Flexible School Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Lochiel Pambula
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 9
Parks & reserves 1 4
Childcare 0 3
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 14 1

Mobility

Lochiel sits further from the CBD (537 km vs 528.2 km).

Lochiel Pambula
Walkability score 0/100 77/100
Distance to Sydney 537 km
+2% vs other
 528.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 375 min 365 min
Public transport score 23/100
Bus
 43/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 6.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 14.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2549
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 52
postcode 2549
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.

Lochiel Pambula
Car (driver) 82.0% / 67.3%
Lochiel — Car (driver): 82.0% Pambula — Car (driver): 67.3%
Worked from Home 12.6% / 12.6%
Lochiel — Worked from Home: 12.6% Pambula — Worked from Home: 12.6%
Walked Only — / 13.8%
Lochiel — Walked Only: not among its largest Pambula — Walked Only: 13.8%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 5.4%
Lochiel — Car (passenger): 3.0% Pambula — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Bus 2.4% / 0.9%
Lochiel — Bus: 2.4% Pambula — Bus: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (82.0%).

Setting

Lochiel Pambula
Elevation 141 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.8 km 2.4 km
3.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Lochiel Pambula
Connectivity score 24/100 62/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
94 premises
 30%
666 premises

Climate

Lochiel Pambula
Annual rainfall 768 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Lochiel Pambula
Average residential rate $1,767/yr
same for both
Council Bega Valley
same for both

Federal electorate

Lochiel Pambula
Division Eden-monaro
same for both
Member Kristy Mcbain
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Lochiel Pambula
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Lochiel

Family Rural

Pambula

Coastal Parks Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lochiel

Lochiel vs South Pambula Lochiel vs Wyndham Lochiel vs Nethercote Lochiel vs Bald Hills Lochiel vs Greigs Flat Lochiel vs South Wolumla

Other comparisons with Pambula

Pambula vs Merimbula Pambula vs Pambula Beach Pambula vs Millingandi Pambula vs South Pambula Pambula vs Bald Hills Pambula vs Greigs Flat
Full data on Lochiel Full data on Pambula
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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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