Rydal vs South Bowenfels

South Bowenfels is the younger of the two, with a median age of 48 against 53 in Rydal. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Rydal, most households are people living alone. In South Bowenfels, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in South Bowenfels: a median of $928,000, against $764,000 in Rydal, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Rydal tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while South Bowenfels suits families with children and couples.

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 Bowenfels

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 68/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (56% vs 36%)
  • But Rydal has more separate houses rather than flats (92% vs 70%)

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

First-home buyers

Rydal

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 31%)
  • has cheaper houses ($764,000 vs $927,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Rydal

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($200/wk vs $370/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (15% vs 23%)

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 160.8 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

South Bowenfels

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (30% vs 8%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 68/100)

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

Investors

South Bowenfels

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.1% vs -23.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Rydal 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.

Rydal 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.

Rydal South Bowenfels
Walkability 0 / 0
Rydal — Walkability: 0/100 South Bowenfels — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 32 / 68
Rydal — Safety: 32/100 South Bowenfels — Safety: 68/100
Low fire risk 81 / 61
Rydal — Low fire risk: 81/100 South Bowenfels — Low fire risk: 61/100

Demographics

South Bowenfels has more residents (1,326 vs 163); South Bowenfels rents higher ($370/wk vs $200/wk).

Rydal South Bowenfels
Population 163 1,326
+713% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -23.5% +14.1%
Median age 53 48
Median household income $68,900/yr $83,616/yr
+21% vs other
Median weekly rent $200/wk $370/wk
+85% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Rydal South Bowenfels
0-4 3.1% / 6.2%
Rydal — 0-4: 3.1% South Bowenfels — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 9.2% / 12.3%
Rydal — 5-14: 9.2% South Bowenfels — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 8.6% / 4.9%
Rydal — 15-19: 8.6% South Bowenfels — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 1.8% / 3.5%
Rydal — 20-24: 1.8% South Bowenfels — 20-24: 3.5%
25-34 8.6% / 10.3%
Rydal — 25-34: 8.6% South Bowenfels — 25-34: 10.3%
35-44 9.2% / 9.6%
Rydal — 35-44: 9.2% South Bowenfels — 35-44: 9.6%
45-54 17.8% / 9.9%
Rydal — 45-54: 17.8% South Bowenfels — 45-54: 9.9%
55-64 15.3% / 11.8%
Rydal — 55-64: 15.3% South Bowenfels — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 17.2% / 15.5%
Rydal — 65-74: 17.2% South Bowenfels — 65-74: 15.5%
75-84 9.8% / 11.8%
Rydal — 75-84: 9.8% South Bowenfels — 75-84: 11.8%
85+ 1.8% / 4.3%
Rydal — 85+: 1.8% South Bowenfels — 85+: 4.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Rydal 64.3% lone person
Rydal — Lone Person: 64.3% Rydal — Couple Families: 23.8% Rydal — One Parent Families: 11.9% Rydal — Group Household: 0.0%
South Bowenfels 41.0% lone person
South Bowenfels — Lone Person: 41.0% South Bowenfels — Couple Families: 47.1% South Bowenfels — One Parent Families: 9.2% South Bowenfels — Group Household: 2.8%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Rydal 6.2% renting
Rydal — Owned Outright: 59.4% Rydal — Mortgage: 34.4% Rydal — Renting: 6.2%
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

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.

Rydal South Bowenfels
England 4.9% / 3.3%
Rydal — England: 4.9% South Bowenfels — England: 3.3%
New Zealand — / 1.2%
Rydal — New Zealand: not among its largest South Bowenfels — New Zealand: 1.2%
Scotland — / 1.0%
Rydal — Scotland: not among its largest South Bowenfels — Scotland: 1.0%
Philippines — / 0.6%
Rydal — Philippines: not among its largest South Bowenfels — Philippines: 0.6%
Thailand — / 0.5%
Rydal — Thailand: not among its largest South Bowenfels — Thailand: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

Qualifications

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

Rydal South Bowenfels
Certificate III & IV 20.2% / 18.9%
Rydal — Certificate III & IV: 20.2% South Bowenfels — Certificate III & IV: 18.9%
Bachelor Degree 9.2% / 8.7%
Rydal — Bachelor Degree: 9.2% South Bowenfels — Bachelor Degree: 8.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 8.4%
Rydal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% South Bowenfels — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 1.8% / 2.6%
Rydal — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8% South Bowenfels — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 2.2%
Rydal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest South Bowenfels — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Rydal 92.4% houses
Rydal — Houses: 92.4% Rydal — Townhouses: 6.1% Rydal — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
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

Rydal South Bowenfels
Median house price $764,000 $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

Rydal has more rural and farming land (90% vs 72%).

Rydal South Bowenfels
Rural and farming 90% 72%
Residential 1% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 8%
same for both
Environmental 0% 7%
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

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

Ranking within NSW

Rydal South Bowenfels
House price Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
Income Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 61% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 47% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 33% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW

Liveability

Rydal South Bowenfels
Grade — C
Score — 44/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Rydal carries more crime risk (68 vs 32); South Bowenfels carries more bushfire risk (39 vs 19).

Rydal South Bowenfels
Bushfire Low
19/100
 Low
39/100
Crime Moderate
68/100
 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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Rydal 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

Rydal South Bowenfels
Parks & reserves 5
same for both
GPs 0 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 17 10

Mobility

Rydal sits further from the CBD (160.8 km vs 154.5 km).

Rydal South Bowenfels
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 160.8 km
+4% vs other
 154.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 146 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.

Rydal South Bowenfels
Car (driver) 57.4% / 85.0%
Rydal — Car (driver): 57.4% South Bowenfels — Car (driver): 85.0%
Worked from Home 29.4% / 10.4%
Rydal — Worked from Home: 29.4% South Bowenfels — Worked from Home: 10.4%
Car (passenger) 8.8% / 3.6%
Rydal — Car (passenger): 8.8% South Bowenfels — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Walked Only 4.4% / 1.1%
Rydal — Walked Only: 4.4% South Bowenfels — Walked Only: 1.1%

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

Setting

Rydal South Bowenfels
Elevation 937 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 890 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Rydal South Bowenfels
Connectivity score 23/100 71/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
54 premises
 42%
638 premises

Climate

Rydal 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Rydal

Retirees Rural Trains

South Bowenfels

Retirees Rural Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Rydal

Rydal vs Bowenfels Rydal vs Wallerawang Rydal vs Hartley Rydal vs Hampton Rydal vs Sodwalls Rydal vs Mount Lambie

Other comparisons with South Bowenfels

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