Rushforth vs South Grafton

South Grafton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 47 in Rushforth. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Rushforth, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Rushforth: a median of $885,000, against $470,000 in South Grafton, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Rushforth tends to suit couples, while South Grafton suits people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

Rushforth and South Grafton are very different propositions. Rushforth is a tiny, affluent enclave with a median household income of $79,248 and median house prices around $885,000, though it carries a notably higher bushfire risk of 80 compared to South Grafton's 46. South Grafton is a larger town of 6,288 people with significantly lower housing costs—median house prices of $475,000 and weekly rent at $280—but faces a much higher crime risk score of 96 versus Rushforth's 20. Rushforth suits buyers seeking a quieter, wealthier setting willing to accept bushfire exposure and isolation, while South Grafton offers more urban amenities and affordability, though with crime considerations.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

South Grafton

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (16 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • But Rushforth carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 95/100)

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

First-home buyers

South Grafton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($470,000 vs $885,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Grafton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (37% vs 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $420/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

South Grafton

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (35/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (401 min vs 419 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (608.7 km vs 618.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Rushforth has more units and townhouses to downsize into (24% vs 10%)
  • South Grafton is more walkable (35/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Rushforth

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.3% vs 3.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Rushforth South Grafton
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.

Rushforth South Grafton
Walkability 0 / 35
Rushforth — Walkability: 0/100 South Grafton — Walkability: 35/100
Safety 59 / 5
Rushforth — Safety: 59/100 South Grafton — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 20 / 54
Rushforth — Low fire risk: 20/100 South Grafton — Low fire risk: 54/100

Demographics

South Grafton has more residents (6,288 vs 285); Rushforth has higher household incomes ($79,248 vs $50,700).

Rushforth South Grafton
Population 285 6,288
+2106% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.3% +3.6%
Median age 47 40
Median household income $79,248/yr
+36% vs other
 $50,700/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+33% vs other
 $280/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Rushforth South Grafton
0-4 5.6% / 6.3%
Rushforth — 0-4: 5.6% South Grafton — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 12.3% / 15.0%
Rushforth — 5-14: 12.3% South Grafton — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 7.4% / 6.1%
Rushforth — 15-19: 7.4% South Grafton — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 4.9% / 6.2%
Rushforth — 20-24: 4.9% South Grafton — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 9.1% / 11.0%
Rushforth — 25-34: 9.1% South Grafton — 25-34: 11.0%
35-44 9.8% / 10.5%
Rushforth — 35-44: 9.8% South Grafton — 35-44: 10.5%
45-54 12.6% / 11.6%
Rushforth — 45-54: 12.6% South Grafton — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 18.2% / 12.1%
Rushforth — 55-64: 18.2% South Grafton — 55-64: 12.1%
65-74 14.0% / 11.1%
Rushforth — 65-74: 14.0% South Grafton — 65-74: 11.1%
75-84 6.3% / 7.3%
Rushforth — 75-84: 6.3% South Grafton — 75-84: 7.3%
85+ 1.8% / 2.8%
Rushforth — 85+: 1.8% South Grafton — 85+: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Rushforth 54.2% couple families
Rushforth — Couple Families: 54.2% Rushforth — Lone Person: 20.3% Rushforth — One Parent Families: 25.4% Rushforth — Group Household: 0.0% Rushforth — Other Families: 0.0%
South Grafton 25.1% couple families
South Grafton — Couple Families: 25.1% South Grafton — Lone Person: 41.7% South Grafton — One Parent Families: 26.7% South Grafton — Group Household: 4.6% South Grafton — Other Families: 1.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Rushforth 16.5% renting
Rushforth — Owned Outright: 42.3% Rushforth — Mortgage: 41.2% Rushforth — Renting: 16.5%
South Grafton 37.4% renting
South Grafton — Owned Outright: 35.7% South Grafton — Mortgage: 26.8% South Grafton — Renting: 37.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Rushforth South Grafton
Certificate III & IV 21.4% / 16.8%
Rushforth — Certificate III & IV: 21.4% South Grafton — Certificate III & IV: 16.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 4.8%
Rushforth — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% South Grafton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8%
Bachelor Degree 6.7% / 3.8%
Rushforth — Bachelor Degree: 6.7% South Grafton — Bachelor Degree: 3.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.8% / 1.0%
Rushforth — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8% South Grafton — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 0.6%
Rushforth — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% South Grafton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.4%).

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.

Rushforth South Grafton
England 1.4% / 1.3%
Rushforth — England: 1.4% South Grafton — England: 1.3%
New Zealand 1.4% / 0.7%
Rushforth — New Zealand: 1.4% South Grafton — New Zealand: 0.7%
Netherlands 1.8% / 0.2%
Rushforth — Netherlands: 1.8% South Grafton — Netherlands: 0.2%
Philippines — / 0.3%
Rushforth — Philippines: not among its largest South Grafton — Philippines: 0.3%
Scotland — / 0.3%
Rushforth — Scotland: not among its largest South Grafton — Scotland: 0.3%
India — / 0.2%
Rushforth — India: not among its largest South Grafton — India: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Rushforth 76.0% houses
Rushforth — Houses: 76.0% Rushforth — Flats / Apartments: 24.0% Rushforth — Townhouses: 0.0%
South Grafton 90.2% houses
South Grafton — Houses: 90.2% South Grafton — Flats / Apartments: 6.1% South Grafton — Townhouses: 3.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Rushforth South Grafton
Median house price $885,000 $470,000
Median unit price — $475,800
Median land price — $660,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 26 days
from 61 sales

Zoning mix

Rushforth has more rural and farming land (97% vs 61%); South Grafton has more industrially zoned land (10% vs 0%).

Rushforth South Grafton
Rural and farming 97% 61%
Residential 1% 16%
Industrial 0% 10%
Parks and recreation 0% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 3%
Environmental 2% 3%
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

Rushforth South Grafton
New dwellings approved 246
across Clarence Valley
same for both
Approvals change year on year -80%
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.

Rushforth South Grafton
Houses — 4.9%
$520/wk on $550K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Rushforth South Grafton
House price Higher than 20% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW
Income Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 44% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 8% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 17% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 96% of NSW

Liveability

South Grafton is more walkable (35 vs 0).

Rushforth South Grafton
Grade — D
Score — 20/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

South Grafton carries more crime risk (95 vs 41); Rushforth carries more bushfire risk (80 vs 46).

Rushforth South Grafton
Bushfire High
80/100
 Moderate
46/100
Crime Moderate
41/100
 High
95/100
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
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Rushforth South Grafton
Inside the suburb 0 5
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Rushforth

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

Schools in South Grafton

  • St Joseph's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Gillwinga Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • South Grafton High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • South Grafton Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Induna School Government · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Rushforth South Grafton
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 8
Parks & reserves 0 16
Childcare 0 5
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 7
Waterways 15 25

Mobility

Rushforth sits further from the CBD (618.3 km vs 608.7 km).

Rushforth South Grafton
Walkability score 0/100 35/100
Distance to Sydney 618.3 km
+2% vs other
 608.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 419 min 401 min
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 2460
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 60
postcode 2460
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.

Rushforth South Grafton
Car (driver) 79.5% / 81.1%
Rushforth — Car (driver): 79.5% South Grafton — Car (driver): 81.1%
Worked from Home 14.3% / 6.6%
Rushforth — Worked from Home: 14.3% South Grafton — Worked from Home: 6.6%
Car (passenger) 6.2% / 7.1%
Rushforth — Car (passenger): 6.2% South Grafton — Car (passenger): 7.1%
Walked Only — / 3.4%
Rushforth — Walked Only: not among its largest South Grafton — Walked Only: 3.4%
Bicycle — / 1.0%
Rushforth — Bicycle: not among its largest South Grafton — Bicycle: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.1%).

Setting

Rushforth South Grafton
Elevation 43 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 41.8 km 34.2 km

NBN connectivity

Rushforth South Grafton
Connectivity score 48/100 66/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
109 premises
 38%
3,280 premises

Climate

Rushforth South Grafton
Annual rainfall 1,060 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.3°C
same for both

Council rates

Rushforth South Grafton
Average residential rate $1,380/yr
same for both
Council Clarence Valley
same for both

Federal electorate

Rushforth South Grafton
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Rushforth

River Rural

South Grafton

Acreage Affordable River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Rushforth

Rushforth vs Waterview Heights Rushforth vs Elland Rushforth vs Shannondale

Other comparisons with South Grafton

South Grafton vs Grafton South Grafton vs Clarenza South Grafton vs Elland South Grafton vs Waterview
Full data on Rushforth Full data on South Grafton
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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