South Grafton vs Waterview

South Grafton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 57 in Waterview. In South Grafton, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Waterview, about half of households rent, about half of homes are flats or apartments, and the large majority of households are people living alone. On these figures, South Grafton tends to suit families with children, while Waterview suits renters, people living alone, and older residents.

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 5 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 Waterview carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 95/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Waterview

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (49% vs 37%)
  • has cheaper rent ($245/wk vs $280/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

South Grafton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (35/100 vs 14/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (608.7 km vs 612 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Waterview

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (54% vs 10%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (43% vs 21%)
  • carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 95/100)
  • But South Grafton has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

Waterview

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (13.9% vs 3.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

South Grafton Waterview
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.

South Grafton Waterview
Walkability 35 / 14
South Grafton — Walkability: 35/100 Waterview — Walkability: 14/100
Safety 5 / 26
South Grafton — Safety: 5/100 Waterview — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 54 / 85
South Grafton — Low fire risk: 54/100 Waterview — Low fire risk: 85/100

Demographics

South Grafton has more residents (6,288 vs 90); Waterview skews older (57 vs 40).

South Grafton Waterview
Population 6,288
+99% vs other
 90
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.6% +13.9%
Median age 40 57
Median household income $50,700/yr
+21% vs other
 $39,884/yr
Median weekly rent $280/wk
+12% vs other
 $245/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

South Grafton Waterview
0-4 6.3% / 6.7%
South Grafton — 0-4: 6.3% Waterview — 0-4: 6.7%
5-14 15.0% / 5.6%
South Grafton — 5-14: 15.0% Waterview — 5-14: 5.6%
15-19 6.1% / —
South Grafton — 15-19: 6.1% Waterview — 15-19: not among its largest
20-24 6.2% / —
South Grafton — 20-24: 6.2% Waterview — 20-24: not among its largest
25-34 11.0% / 11.1%
South Grafton — 25-34: 11.0% Waterview — 25-34: 11.1%
35-44 10.5% / 14.4%
South Grafton — 35-44: 10.5% Waterview — 35-44: 14.4%
45-54 11.6% / 10.0%
South Grafton — 45-54: 11.6% Waterview — 45-54: 10.0%
55-64 12.1% / 15.6%
South Grafton — 55-64: 12.1% Waterview — 55-64: 15.6%
65-74 11.1% / 22.2%
South Grafton — 65-74: 11.1% Waterview — 65-74: 22.2%
75-84 7.3% / 21.1%
South Grafton — 75-84: 7.3% Waterview — 75-84: 21.1%
85+ 2.8% / —
South Grafton — 85+: 2.8% Waterview — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

South Grafton 41.7% lone person
South Grafton — Lone Person: 41.7% South Grafton — Couple Families: 25.1% South Grafton — One Parent Families: 26.7% South Grafton — Group Household: 4.6% South Grafton — Other Families: 1.9%
Waterview 79.2% lone person
Waterview — Lone Person: 79.2% Waterview — Couple Families: 12.5% Waterview — One Parent Families: 8.3% Waterview — Group Household: 0.0% Waterview — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

South Grafton 37.4% renting
South Grafton — Owned Outright: 35.7% South Grafton — Mortgage: 26.8% South Grafton — Renting: 37.4%
Waterview 49.1% renting
Waterview — Owned Outright: 43.4% Waterview — Mortgage: 7.5% Waterview — Renting: 49.1%
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.

South Grafton Waterview
England 1.3% / 3.3%
South Grafton — England: 1.3% Waterview — England: 3.3%
New Zealand 0.7% / —
South Grafton — New Zealand: 0.7% Waterview — New Zealand: not among its largest
Philippines 0.3% / —
South Grafton — Philippines: 0.3% Waterview — Philippines: not among its largest
Scotland 0.3% / —
South Grafton — Scotland: 0.3% Waterview — Scotland: not among its largest
India 0.2% / —
South Grafton — India: 0.2% Waterview — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.3%).

Qualifications

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

South Grafton Waterview
Certificate III & IV 16.8% / 15.6%
South Grafton — Certificate III & IV: 16.8% Waterview — Certificate III & IV: 15.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.8% / 10.0%
South Grafton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8% Waterview — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Bachelor Degree 3.8% / 4.4%
South Grafton — Bachelor Degree: 3.8% Waterview — Bachelor Degree: 4.4%
Postgraduate Degree 1.0% / —
South Grafton — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0% Waterview — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.6% / —
South Grafton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6% Waterview — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

South Grafton 90.2% houses
South Grafton — Houses: 90.2% South Grafton — Flats / Apartments: 6.1% South Grafton — Townhouses: 3.7%
Waterview 45.6% houses
Waterview — Houses: 45.6% Waterview — Flats / Apartments: 54.4% Waterview — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

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

Zoning mix

Waterview has more rural and farming land (90% vs 61%); South Grafton has more industrially zoned land (10% vs 0%).

South Grafton Waterview
Rural and farming 61% 90%
Residential 16% 0%
Industrial 10% 0%
Environmental 3% 10%
Parks and recreation 6% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 0%
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

South Grafton Waterview
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.

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

Ranking within NSW

South Grafton Waterview
House price Higher than 12% of NSW —
Income Higher than 12% of NSW Higher than 4% of NSW
Schools Higher than 44% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 75% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 18% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 96% of NSW —

Liveability

South Grafton is more walkable (35 vs 14).

South Grafton Waterview
Grade D —
Score 20/100 —
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

South Grafton carries more bushfire risk (46 vs 15); South Grafton carries more crime risk (95 vs 74).

South Grafton Waterview
Bushfire Moderate
46/100
 Low
15/100
Crime High
95/100
 High
74/100
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 5
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

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

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

Schools in Waterview

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

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Waterview sits further from the CBD (612 km vs 608.7 km).

South Grafton Waterview
Walkability score 35/100 14/100
Distance to Sydney 608.7 km 612 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 401 min 403 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.

South Grafton Waterview
Car (driver) 81.1% / 84.6%
South Grafton — Car (driver): 81.1% Waterview — Car (driver): 84.6%
Worked from Home 6.6% / 15.4%
South Grafton — Worked from Home: 6.6% Waterview — Worked from Home: 15.4%
Car (passenger) 7.1% / —
South Grafton — Car (passenger): 7.1% Waterview — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Walked Only 3.4% / —
South Grafton — Walked Only: 3.4% Waterview — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bicycle 1.0% / —
South Grafton — Bicycle: 1.0% Waterview — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (84.6%).

Setting

South Grafton Waterview
Elevation 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 34.2 km 38.3 km

NBN connectivity

South Grafton Waterview
Connectivity score 66/100 43/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
3,280 premises
 7%
45 premises

Climate

South Grafton Waterview
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

South Grafton

Acreage Affordable River

Waterview

Retirees River Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with South Grafton

South Grafton vs Grafton South Grafton vs Clarenza South Grafton vs Elland South Grafton vs Rushforth

Other comparisons with Waterview

Waterview vs Grafton Waterview vs Waterview Heights
Full data on South Grafton Full data on Waterview
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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