Located in New South Wales, South West Rocks sits 453 km from Sydney CBD, around 5 hours 5 minutes by car. The town has 5,058 residents, a median age of 58, and a median household income of $50,960 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the bottom 20% nationally. Population grew 9.9% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $323 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,517. The area shows high crime risk. 1 school sits within the town boundary, and walkability is moderate.
Is South West Rocks a good town?
South West Rocks scores a D (21/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — weaker on safety and community.
Mixed results
1 school
Some car dependence
Walkability 45/100 · 453.1 km · 304 min drive to Sydney
Around the state median
Median $755K
High crime risk
Fire 54/100 · Crime 77/100
Highly disadvantaged
SEIFA decile 2/10 · median age 58 · 5,058 residents
Liveability Rating
21 / 100 · Ranked #1441 in NSWEach bar is South West Rocks's rank among NSW suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better). Scored on 4 of 5 factors: no school data, so the other factors carry its weight.
No flood data is published for New South Wales — a blank here means we hold no data, not that there is no risk.
How do you rate the liveability in South West Rocks?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
21 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataSouth West Rocks's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $755,000, roughly 14% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$755,000
Based on 115 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 66 days — median across 43 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 9 sales $620K
- 3 bed 57 sales $755K
- 4 bed 26 sales $840K
- 5 bed 5 sales $895K
Units
$600,000
Based on 36 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 133 days — median across 9 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 15 sales $545K
- 3 bed 11 sales $850K
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in South West Rocks are currently listed at around $940,000 on average. Based on 82 houses listed in the past six months.
Houses
$940K
82 houses listed in the last 6 months.
Units
$710K
26 units listed in the last 6 months.
108 of the suburb's 2,186 dwellings (4.9%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in South West Rocks rent for around $580 a week on average, based on 27 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
Houses
$580/wk
27 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
Units
$430/wk
11 units advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
38 rentals advertised against an estimated 544 rented homes (7.0%) in the last 6 months.
Rent agreed on new leases
Jul–Sep 2026- 3-bed houses
- $550/wk
- 17 bonds
- +24% since 2021
Median weekly rent on bonds lodged for new tenancies across postcode 2431 (NSW publishes bonds by postcode, which can cover several suburbs). Change since 2021 compares the median of the first four quarters with the last four. Asking rents above come from advertised listings.
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025105 Moderately unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 29% of its income on the median rent in postcode 2431.
SGS Rental Affordability Index: a score of 100 means rent takes 30% of income, the usual housing-stress line; lower scores are less affordable. "Region" is the capital city or the rest of the state.
Gross rental yield
Indicative$580/week ($30,000 a year) on a $940,000 median
$430/week ($22,000 a year) on a $710,000 median
Gross yield — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. Calculated from median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.
Short-Stay Rentals
144 active Airbnb listings: 142 whole homes and 2 rooms. Whole homes are about 5.1% of the town's homes.
Airbnb only, as at Jun 2026; other platforms are not included. Active means reviewed in the past 12 months. The share is against private dwellings at the 2021 Census.
Is South West Rocks safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in South West Rocks sits in the high band, with 323 incidents recorded in 2025 — down roughly 15% on the prior year.
323 offences
15.4% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–20253 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the town carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Council Flood Studies
Kempsey Shire Council has published 9 flood studies on the NSW Flood Data Portal. The mapped flood areas are in those studies; SuburbScan does not hold them.
Coastal Erosion
Shoreline Change Summary
1988–2025Nearest Eroding Coastline
- Distance
- 1.5 km
- Rate
- -0.11 m/yr
- Net Movement
- -7.9 m
- Certainty
- good
Data Quality
Schools
One school serve South West Rocks, and performance is broadly on par with peer-suburb schools.
- • 348 students in one school (avg 348)
Primary
Walkability
South West Rocks is car-dependent on foot — at 45/100, most errands require a car. Within the town there are 3 supermarkets, 2 parks and 10 cafes to anchor that walking radius.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside South West Rocks.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 17.2 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 6.7 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 0.0 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 1 min
- Span of service
- 9.1 hours
Scheduled service only, based on the 21 October 2026 timetable. Reliability (delays, cancellations) not measured.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in South West Rocks.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 37%
- Premises covered
- 3,947
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Kempsey: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this town alone — this town's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 14 small areas inside this town and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 4 different deciles — a wide range, so parts of this town rank well above the average and parts well below it.
South West Rocks is home to about 5,100 residents, with a median age of 58 — noticeably older than the national figure of 38. Median household income runs at $51,000 a year, with unemployment at 6.4%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
5,058
Median Age
58
Median Household Income
$50,960/yr
Census Median Rent
$323/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,517/mo
Avg Household Size
2.1
Median Personal Income
$27,716/yr
Unemployment Rate
6.4%
Unoccupied Dwellings
26.9%
Total Dwellings
2,186
Owner-Occupier Rate
75.1%
Houses
81.3%
Rental Stress
33.0%
Mortgage Stress
35.7%
Work From Home
13.2%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
10 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 19 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 530 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 83.5%
- English Spoken at Home
- 90.9%
- Employment Rate
- 37.5%
- Completed Year 12
- 27.9%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
When They Arrived
Share of all residents by the year they arrived in Australia. Periods cover different numbers of years, so compare the shape rather than the bar widths.
62 residents (1.2%) arrived since 2016. Australia’s borders were closed to most arrivals from March 2020, so the last two years of that period are much smaller than the ones before them — nationally 260,799 people arrived in 2019 against 28,521 in 2021.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
7.4% of residents (359) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Sydney (281).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 4,845 residents aged five and over. Areas are ABS statistical regions. Small counts are approximate: the ABS adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Languages Spoken at Home
Top languages other than English, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
1% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (10 of 1,650).
City centre: the ABS area around each capital's CBD, such as Sydney Inner City or Perth City (which takes in Subiaco and Leederville). 2021 Census place of work.
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,447 a year through Kempsey based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Environmental 40%
- Residential 33%
- Parks and recreation 17%
- Rural and farming 7%
- Infrastructure and transport 2%
- Zones under 1% 2%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the town around it — the property page shows the zone for one address.
Building Approvals: Kempsey
In the year to August 2026, 144 new dwellings were approved across Kempsey. That mix is 83 houses and 61 units. Approvals are up 380.0% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Land Council
Aboriginal land in this area is administered by the Kempsey Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Local Aboriginal Land Councils are statutory bodies under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, responsible for land claims and land management for their members. Their boundaries are administrative and are not a statement of whose Country this is. NSW does not publish a register of Aboriginal parties by area — they are registered for each project.
Setting
- Elevation
- 7 m
- above sea level, at the town centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 1.5 km
- 1.5 km to a named beach
Elevation is the ground at the town centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
Industrial Emissions Nearby
1 facility within 5 km- 1.3 kmSewerage and Drainage ServicesTop reported: Ammonia (total)
EV adoption
In postcode 2431, 17 of 4,786 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 2.3% (108 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 2.6%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 2431, 1,700 rooftop-solar systems totalling 9.3 MW have been installed since 2001, against 3,072 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 77 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$10,000 for new homes priced up to $600,000.
Off-the-plan or contracted-build value cap is $750,000 (vs $600,000 for completed new homes). Stamp duty concessions are a separate scheme (First Home Buyers Assistance).
Mortgage repayments
Transfer duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with Revenue NSW
The First Home Owner Grant applies to newly built homes only, so it isn't available on an established purchase. A first home buyer building or buying new under $600,000 may qualify for $10,000 — see what qualifies with Revenue NSW.
At $755,000 this is $155,000 above the $600,000 First Home Owner Grant cap. A first home buyer may qualify for $10,000 on a newly built home — check eligibility with Revenue NSW.
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-27 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Pat Conaghan The Nationals
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Pat Conaghan | 40.9% | 59.1% | +0.5 |
| 2022 | Pat Conaghan | 40.5% | 59.5% | -2.4 |
| 2019 | Pat Conaghan | 38.1% | 61.9% | -0.7 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact town's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Michael Kemp The Nationals
Next state election: 13 March 2027.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Michael Kemp NP | 62.8% |
| 2019 | Melinda Pavey NP | 64.9% |
| 2015 | Melinda Pavey NP | 60.9% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2021, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this town's voters. Results: © State of New South Wales through the NSW Electoral Commission, CC BY 4.0, adapted.
Looking at a specific address in South West Rocks?
Every figure above is a town average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 5,058 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
Nearby suburbs
Compare South West Rocks to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other NSW suburb — type a name and pick one.
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Common questions about South West Rocks
Is South West Rocks a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in South West Rocks is high (77/100, ranked against other NSW suburbs on offences per resident). Offences against shops, venues and visitors are divided by the people who live here, so suburbs with large daytime or visitor populations rank higher than living there may feel.
What natural hazards affect South West Rocks?
South West Rocks has a moderate recorded bushfire history (54/100, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history). These are town-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is South West Rocks a good place to live?
South West Rocks has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of D (21/100), ranked against other NSW suburbs on school quality (25%), safety (25%), SEIFA socio-economic advantage (25%), walkability (15%) and CBD access (10%). Whether it suits you depends on what you weigh — each of those is on this page.
What is the population of South West Rocks?
South West Rocks, NSW had a population of 5,058 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for South West Rocks, NSW?
The postcode for South West Rocks, NSW is 2431.
How far is South West Rocks from Sydney?
South West Rocks is 453 km from Sydney CBD by road, about 304 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in South West Rocks?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in South West Rocks was $50,960 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in South West Rocks?
The median advertised rent in South West Rocks is $580 a week for houses (27 listings) and $430 a week for units (11 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in South West Rocks?
The median age of residents in South West Rocks was 58 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is South West Rocks at risk of bushfire?
South West Rocks has a moderate recorded bushfire history (54/100). The score comes from Geoscience Australia's historical bushfire boundaries, with planned burns excluded: the area of recorded fires touching the town relative to its size, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history. It records where fire has burned, not a bushfire-prone land designation, which your council's planning scheme sets.
How are the schools in South West Rocks?
There is 1 school inside the South West Rocks boundary: 1 at similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is South West Rocks walkable?
South West Rocks scores 45/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it car-dependent. The score is a weighted average of public transport, schools, parks, supermarkets, GPs, pharmacies, childcare, and hospitals within walking distance.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in South West Rocks?
First-home buyers in NSW may be eligible for $10,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $600,000. The grant is administered by Revenue NSW; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does South West Rocks belong to?
South West Rocks sits within the Kempsey local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in South West Rocks?
The average residential rates bill through Kempsey is $1,447 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near South West Rocks?
Across Kempsey, 144 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's up 380.0% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is South West Rocks in?
South West Rocks sits within the federal Division of Cowper, currently held by Pat Conaghan (The Nationals).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2024–25
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- Public transport · Oct 2026
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2025
- Road crashes · 2021–2025
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- Short-stay rentals · Jun 2026
- State electorate · 2023
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
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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.