Pokolbin vs Belford

Belford is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 57 in Pokolbin. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Pokolbin, about half of households are couple families. In Belford, the large majority of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Pokolbin: a median of $1.25 million, against $1.05 million in Belford, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Pokolbin tends to suit older residents, while Belford suits families with children, couples, 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

Belford

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (56/100 vs 90/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (100% vs 64%)
  • But Pokolbin has more parks and reserves (13 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Pokolbin has cheaper land ($230,000 vs $295,000)
  • Belford has cheaper houses ($1,050,000 vs $1,250,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Belford

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($530/wk vs $600/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Pokolbin sits closer to the CBD (165.6 km vs 186.5 km)
  • Belford has a shorter drive in (129 min vs 134 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Pokolbin has more residents already 65 and over (31% vs 14%)
  • Belford carries lower crime risk (56/100 vs 90/100)

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

Investors

Pokolbin

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (9.2% vs 2.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Pokolbin Belford
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.

Pokolbin Belford
Walkability 0 / 0
Pokolbin — Walkability: 0/100 Belford — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 10 / 44
Pokolbin — Safety: 10/100 Belford — Safety: 44/100
Low fire risk 48 / 89
Pokolbin — Low fire risk: 48/100 Belford — Low fire risk: 89/100

Demographics

Pokolbin has more residents (1,049 vs 176); Pokolbin skews older (57 vs 44).

Pokolbin Belford
Population 1,049
+83% vs other
 176
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.2% +2.9%
Median age 57 44
Median household income $124,540/yr $147,316/yr
+18% vs other
Median weekly rent $600/wk
+12% vs other
 $530/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Pokolbin Belford
0-4 2.6% / 8.5%
Pokolbin — 0-4: 2.6% Belford — 0-4: 8.5%
5-14 8.9% / 10.2%
Pokolbin — 5-14: 8.9% Belford — 5-14: 10.2%
15-19 3.5% / 3.4%
Pokolbin — 15-19: 3.5% Belford — 15-19: 3.4%
20-24 3.1% / 1.7%
Pokolbin — 20-24: 3.1% Belford — 20-24: 1.7%
25-34 5.3% / 10.8%
Pokolbin — 25-34: 5.3% Belford — 25-34: 10.8%
35-44 10.6% / 15.9%
Pokolbin — 35-44: 10.6% Belford — 35-44: 15.9%
45-54 12.1% / 18.8%
Pokolbin — 45-54: 12.1% Belford — 45-54: 18.8%
55-64 22.8% / 15.9%
Pokolbin — 55-64: 22.8% Belford — 55-64: 15.9%
65-74 21.8% / 11.9%
Pokolbin — 65-74: 21.8% Belford — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 8.2% / 2.3%
Pokolbin — 75-84: 8.2% Belford — 75-84: 2.3%
85+ 0.6% / —
Pokolbin — 85+: 0.6% Belford — 85+: not among its largest

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Pokolbin 52.2% couple families
Pokolbin — Couple Families: 52.2% Pokolbin — Lone Person: 34.8% Pokolbin — One Parent Families: 11.4% Pokolbin — Group Household: 1.6%
Belford 88.9% couple families
Belford — Couple Families: 88.9% Belford — Lone Person: 0.0% Belford — One Parent Families: 11.1% Belford — Group Household: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Pokolbin 11.0% renting
Pokolbin — Owned Outright: 50.3% Pokolbin — Mortgage: 38.7% Pokolbin — Renting: 11.0%
Belford 7.8% renting
Belford — Owned Outright: 29.4% Belford — Mortgage: 62.7% Belford — Renting: 7.8%
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.

Pokolbin Belford
England 7.8% / 2.8%
Pokolbin — England: 7.8% Belford — England: 2.8%
South Africa 2.6% / —
Pokolbin — South Africa: 2.6% Belford — South Africa: not among its largest
New Zealand 2.2% / —
Pokolbin — New Zealand: 2.2% Belford — New Zealand: not among its largest
China 0.9% / —
Pokolbin — China: 0.9% Belford — China: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.8% / —
Pokolbin — Netherlands: 0.8% Belford — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.8%).

Qualifications

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

Pokolbin Belford
Certificate III & IV 12.6% / 22.7%
Pokolbin — Certificate III & IV: 12.6% Belford — Certificate III & IV: 22.7%
Bachelor Degree 19.2% / 9.7%
Pokolbin — Bachelor Degree: 19.2% Belford — Bachelor Degree: 9.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 15.0% / 7.4%
Pokolbin — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 15.0% Belford — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Postgraduate Degree 6.9% / 1.7%
Pokolbin — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9% Belford — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 2.3%
Pokolbin — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Belford — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Pokolbin 99.0% houses
Pokolbin — Houses: 99.0% Pokolbin — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Belford 106.7% houses
Belford — Houses: 106.7% Belford — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Pokolbin Belford
Median house price $1,250,000 $1,050,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $230,000 $295,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 146 days
from 3 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Pokolbin has more rural and farming land (96% vs 77%); Belford has more land zoned for conservation (18% vs 0%).

Pokolbin Belford
Rural and farming 96% 77%
Environmental 0% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 4%
same for both
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

Pokolbin Belford
New dwellings approved 719
across Cessnock
 121
across Singleton
Approvals change year on year -31% +46%

Ranking within NSW

Pokolbin Belford
House price Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
Income Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 30% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW

Liveability

Pokolbin Belford
Grade C —
Score 38/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Pokolbin carries more bushfire risk (52 vs 11); Pokolbin carries more crime risk (90 vs 56).

Pokolbin Belford
Bushfire Moderate
52/100
 Low
11/100
Crime High
90/100
 Moderate
56/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
100/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Pokolbin Belford
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

Pokolbin Belford
Cafes & restaurants 20 0
Parks & reserves 13 2
Pharmacies 1 0
Waterways 35 2

Mobility

Belford sits further from the CBD (186.5 km vs 165.6 km).

Pokolbin Belford
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 165.6 km 186.5 km
+13% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 134 min 129 min
Public transport score 23/100
Bus
 29/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 5.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 7.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2320
 0.3%
postcode 2335
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2320
 82
postcode 2335

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.

Pokolbin Belford
Car (driver) 38.0% / 66.2%
Pokolbin — Car (driver): 38.0% Belford — Car (driver): 66.2%
Worked from Home 52.0% / 23.9%
Pokolbin — Worked from Home: 52.0% Belford — Worked from Home: 23.9%
Walked Only 8.0% / 9.9%
Pokolbin — Walked Only: 8.0% Belford — Walked Only: 9.9%
Car (passenger) 2.0% / —
Pokolbin — Car (passenger): 2.0% Belford — Car (passenger): not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.2%).

Setting

Pokolbin Belford
Elevation 96 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 72 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 46.9 km 49.4 km

NBN connectivity

Pokolbin Belford
Connectivity score 56/100 29/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
1,310 premises
 0%
65 premises

Climate

Pokolbin Belford
Annual rainfall 804 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.1°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Pokolbin Belford
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 22.6 µg/m³ 19.5 µg/m³
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Pokolbin Belford
Average residential rate $1,405/yr $1,287/yr
Council Cessnock Singleton

Federal electorate

Pokolbin Belford
Division Hunter
same for both
Member Dan Repacholi
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Pokolbin Belford
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Pokolbin

Retirees Rural

Belford

Rural Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Pokolbin

Pokolbin vs Cessnock Pokolbin vs Nulkaba Pokolbin vs Singleton Military Area Pokolbin vs Broke Pokolbin vs Lovedale Pokolbin vs Mount View

Other comparisons with Belford

Belford vs North Rothbury Belford vs Branxton Belford vs Singleton Military Area Belford vs Whittingham Belford vs Lower Belford Belford vs Rothbury
Full data on Pokolbin Full data on Belford
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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