Nelsons Plains vs Raymond Terrace

Raymond Terrace is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 48 in Nelsons Plains. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Nelsons Plains, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Nelsons Plains: a median of $1.98 million, against $746,000 in Raymond Terrace, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Nelsons Plains tends to suit couples, while Raymond Terrace suits people living alone 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

  • Nelsons Plains carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 88/100)
  • Raymond Terrace has more parks and reserves (12 vs 0)

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

  • Nelsons Plains leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 27%)
  • Raymond Terrace has cheaper houses ($746,000 vs $1,975,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Raymond Terrace

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (40% vs 3%)
  • has cheaper rent ($325/wk vs $553/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Raymond Terrace

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 14/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Raymond Terrace

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (17% vs 1%)
  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 14/100)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • But Nelsons Plains carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 88/100)

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

Where they sit

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

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
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.

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Walkability 14 / 70
Nelsons Plains — Walkability: 14/100 Raymond Terrace — Walkability: 70/100
Safety 33 / 12
Nelsons Plains — Safety: 33/100 Raymond Terrace — Safety: 12/100
Low fire risk 86 / 33
Nelsons Plains — Low fire risk: 86/100 Raymond Terrace — Low fire risk: 33/100

Demographics

Raymond Terrace has more residents (13,453 vs 326); Nelsons Plains has higher household incomes ($117,000 vs $67,444).

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Population 326 13,453
+4027% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) — +4.9%
Median age 48 37
Median household income $117,000/yr
+42% vs other
 $67,444/yr
Median weekly rent $553/wk
+41% vs other
 $325/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
0-4 6.4% / 5.9%
Nelsons Plains — 0-4: 6.4% Raymond Terrace — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 15.6% / 14.8%
Nelsons Plains — 5-14: 15.6% Raymond Terrace — 5-14: 14.8%
15-19 7.1% / 6.7%
Nelsons Plains — 15-19: 7.1% Raymond Terrace — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 3.4% / 6.1%
Nelsons Plains — 20-24: 3.4% Raymond Terrace — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 4.9% / 13.1%
Nelsons Plains — 25-34: 4.9% Raymond Terrace — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 10.1% / 12.2%
Nelsons Plains — 35-44: 10.1% Raymond Terrace — 35-44: 12.2%
45-54 14.1% / 12.2%
Nelsons Plains — 45-54: 14.1% Raymond Terrace — 45-54: 12.2%
55-64 16.9% / 12.1%
Nelsons Plains — 55-64: 16.9% Raymond Terrace — 55-64: 12.1%
65-74 15.6% / 10.0%
Nelsons Plains — 65-74: 15.6% Raymond Terrace — 65-74: 10.0%
75-84 3.7% / 5.3%
Nelsons Plains — 75-84: 3.7% Raymond Terrace — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 2.1% / 1.8%
Nelsons Plains — 85+: 2.1% Raymond Terrace — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Nelsons Plains 66.0% couple families
Nelsons Plains — Couple Families: 66.0% Nelsons Plains — Lone Person: 16.0% Nelsons Plains — One Parent Families: 6.0% Nelsons Plains — Other Families: 12.0% Nelsons Plains — Group Household: 0.0%
Raymond Terrace 33.1% couple families
Raymond Terrace — Couple Families: 33.1% Raymond Terrace — Lone Person: 36.4% Raymond Terrace — One Parent Families: 24.8% Raymond Terrace — Other Families: 1.6% Raymond Terrace — Group Household: 4.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Other Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Nelsons Plains 3.2% renting
Nelsons Plains — Owned Outright: 50.5% Nelsons Plains — Mortgage: 46.2% Nelsons Plains — Renting: 3.2%
Raymond Terrace 40.5% renting
Raymond Terrace — Owned Outright: 26.7% Raymond Terrace — Mortgage: 32.7% Raymond Terrace — Renting: 40.5%
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.

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
England 1.2% / 1.7%
Nelsons Plains — England: 1.2% Raymond Terrace — England: 1.7%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.0%
Nelsons Plains — New Zealand: 1.2% Raymond Terrace — New Zealand: 1.0%
Philippines — / 0.6%
Nelsons Plains — Philippines: not among its largest Raymond Terrace — Philippines: 0.6%
Germany — / 0.3%
Nelsons Plains — Germany: not among its largest Raymond Terrace — Germany: 0.3%
Thailand — / 0.3%
Nelsons Plains — Thailand: not among its largest Raymond Terrace — Thailand: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.7%).

Qualifications

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

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Certificate III & IV 17.2% / 19.0%
Nelsons Plains — Certificate III & IV: 17.2% Raymond Terrace — Certificate III & IV: 19.0%
Bachelor Degree 10.4% / 4.5%
Nelsons Plains — Bachelor Degree: 10.4% Raymond Terrace — Bachelor Degree: 4.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 6.0%
Nelsons Plains — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Raymond Terrace — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.1% / 1.0%
Nelsons Plains — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1% Raymond Terrace — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 0.7%
Nelsons Plains — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Raymond Terrace — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Nelsons Plains 98.9% houses
Nelsons Plains — Houses: 98.9% Nelsons Plains — Townhouses: 0.0% Nelsons Plains — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Raymond Terrace 83.2% houses
Raymond Terrace — Houses: 83.2% Raymond Terrace — Townhouses: 15.7% Raymond Terrace — Flats / Apartments: 1.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Median house price $1,975,000 $746,000
Median unit price — $527,500
Median land price — $486,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 25 days
from 141 sales

Zoning mix

Nelsons Plains has more rural and farming land (93% vs 16%); Raymond Terrace has more land zoned for conservation (35% vs 4%).

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Rural and farming 93% 16%
Environmental 4% 35%
Residential 2% 23%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 21%
Parks and recreation 0% 4%
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

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
New dwellings approved 495
across Port Stephens
same for both
Approvals change year on year -72%
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.

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Houses — 4.5%
$650/wk on $750K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
House price Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 26% of NSW
Income Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 30% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 33% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 51% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 91% of NSW

Liveability

Raymond Terrace is more walkable (70 vs 14).

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Grade — D
Score — 21/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Raymond Terrace carries more bushfire risk (67 vs 14); Raymond Terrace carries more crime risk (88 vs 67).

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Bushfire Low
14/100
 Moderate
67/100
Crime Moderate
67/100
 High
88/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 High
100/100
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Inside the suburb 0 6
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 4

Schools in Nelsons Plains

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

Schools in Raymond Terrace

  • St Brigid's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Grahamstown Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Irrawang High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Irrawang Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Raymond Terrace Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Alesco Secondary College - Raymond Terrace Campus Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 0 12
Childcare 1 10
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 4
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 9
Fuel stations 0 3
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 8

Mobility

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Walkability score 14/100 70/100
Distance to Sydney 170.6 km 169.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 126 min 127 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2324
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 2324
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.

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Car (driver) 57.7% / 77.5%
Nelsons Plains — Car (driver): 57.7% Raymond Terrace — Car (driver): 77.5%
Worked from Home 29.2% / 14.3%
Nelsons Plains — Worked from Home: 29.2% Raymond Terrace — Worked from Home: 14.3%
Car (passenger) 8.5% / 5.4%
Nelsons Plains — Car (passenger): 8.5% Raymond Terrace — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Walked Only 4.6% / 1.5%
Nelsons Plains — Walked Only: 4.6% Raymond Terrace — Walked Only: 1.5%
Bus — / 0.9%
Nelsons Plains — Bus: not among its largest Raymond Terrace — Bus: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.5%).

Setting

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Elevation 0 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 13.1 km 7.5 km

NBN connectivity

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Connectivity score 30/100 73/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
116 premises
 51%
6,517 premises

Climate

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Annual rainfall 1,181 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.72 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Average residential rate $1,359/yr
same for both
Council Port Stephens
same for both

Federal electorate

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Division Lyne Paterson
Member Alison Penfold Meryl Swanson
Party The Nationals Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Nelsons Plains Raymond Terrace
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Nelsons Plains

Family Rural

Raymond Terrace

Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Nelsons Plains

Nelsons Plains vs Wallalong Nelsons Plains vs Seaham Nelsons Plains vs Brandy Hill Nelsons Plains vs Hinton Nelsons Plains vs Millers Forest Nelsons Plains vs Eagleton

Other comparisons with Raymond Terrace

Raymond Terrace vs Williamtown Raymond Terrace vs Heatherbrae Raymond Terrace vs Millers Forest Raymond Terrace vs Tomago Raymond Terrace vs Eagleton Raymond Terrace vs Ferodale
Full data on Nelsons Plains Full data on Raymond Terrace
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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