Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Bellingen suburb profile
Bellingen, NSW · Postcode 2454
This Bellingen suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Bellingen, NSW (postcode 2454). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Bellingen with nearby suburbs.
Bellingen at a glance
Population
3,923
Median rent
$390/wk
Household income
$1,268/wk
Median age
44
Bellingen trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+8.6% over 10 years
Population
3,923
was 3,779 in 2016
+144 · +3.8%
Median rent
$390/wk
was $320/wk in 2016
+$70 · +21.9%
Household income
$1,268/wk
was $1,032/wk in 2016
+$236 · +22.9%
Median age
44
was 43 in 2016
+1 · +2.3%
Dig deeper: Bellingen population growth · Bellingen then and now
Bellingen vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for Bellingen, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-7.1% vs area
- Bellingen$390/wk
- Nearby$352.5/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
-31.2% vs area
- Bellingen$1,268/wk
- Nearby$1,297.5/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
+10% vs area
- Bellingen44
- Nearby48
- NSW40
Personal income
-19.4% vs area
- Bellingen$651/wk
- Nearby$613/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How Bellingen compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Bellingen sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage. It shows limited economic resources.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 3973.8
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 4963.5
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 3971.1
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 81,024.8
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Bellingen on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Bellingen, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Bellingen people
- Population
- 3,923
- Median age
- 44
- Born overseas
- 15.5%
- Average household size
- 2.4
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Bellingen income
- Median household income
- $1,268/wk
- Median personal income
- $651/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Bellingen housing
- Median rent
- $390/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,477/mo
- Separate houses
- 87.4%
- Flats & apartments
- 0.6%
- Owned outright
- 36.5%
- Mortgaged
- 30.5%
- Rented
- 24.3%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 6.4%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Bellingen work
- Employment to population
- 52.1%
- Unemployment rate
- 6.2%
- Year 12 or above
- 54.7%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 2454)
Compare Bellingen with nearby suburbs
Bellingen in numbers
Bellingen had 3,923 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 44, 7% above the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2.4 people. 15.5% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 36.5% own their home outright, 30.5% are paying a mortgage, 24.3% rent. Separate houses make up 87.4% of dwellings, with 0.6% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $390/wk, close to the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $1,268/wk, 30% below the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 6.2%. 54.7% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 3 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 3.8% (from 3,779 to 3,923). Median rent moved from $320/wk to $390/wk (+21.9%).
Bellingen suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Bellingen, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Bellingen was $390/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Bellingen, NSW?
- Bellingen had 3,923 residents at the 2021 Census, up 3.8% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Bellingen?
- Median household income in Bellingen was $1,268/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Bellingen?
- 24.3% of occupied homes in Bellingen were rented, 36.5% were owned outright and 30.5% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Bellingen suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Bellingen. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology