Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Wards River suburb profile
Wards River, NSW · Postcode 2422
This Wards River suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Wards River, NSW (postcode 2422). 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 Wards River with nearby suburbs.
Wards River at a glance
Population
178
Median rent
$270/wk
Household income
$783/wk
Median age
55
Wards River 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
+4.1% over 10 years
Population
178
was 178 in 2016
0 · 0%
Median rent
$270/wk
was $230/wk in 2016
+$40 · +17.4%
Household income
$783/wk
was $683/wk in 2016
+$100 · +14.6%
Median age
55
was 53 in 2016
+2 · +3.8%
Dig deeper: Wards River population growth · Wards River then and now
Wards River vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for Wards River, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-35.7% vs area
- Wards River$270/wk
- Nearby$300/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
-57.5% vs area
- Wards River$783/wk
- Nearby$1,093.5/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
+37.5% vs area
- Wards River55
- Nearby50
- NSW40
Personal income
-45.4% vs area
- Wards River$441/wk
- Nearby$567.5/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How Wards River compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Wards River ranks among Australia's most disadvantaged suburbs. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 1815
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 1833.3
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 1887.9
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 1875.5
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Wards River on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Wards River, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Wards River people
- Population
- 178
- Median age
- 55
- Born overseas
- 3.9%
- Average household size
- 2.1
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Wards River income
- Median household income
- $783/wk
- Median personal income
- $441/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Wards River housing
- Median rent
- $270/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,465/mo
- Separate houses
- 82.2%
- Flats & apartments
- 0%
- Owned outright
- 42.2%
- Mortgaged
- 17.8%
- Rented
- 16.7%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 12.2%
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
Wards River work
- Employment to population
- 36.6%
- Unemployment rate
- 15.2%
- Year 12 or above
- 25%
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 2422)
Compare Wards River with nearby suburbs
Wards River in numbers
Wards River had 178 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 55, 34% above the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2.1 people. 3.9% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 42.2% own their home outright, 17.8% are paying a mortgage, 16.7% rent. Separate houses make up 82.2% of dwellings, with 0% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $270/wk, 32% below the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $783/wk, 57% below the typical NSW suburb. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 1 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 0% (from 178 to 178). Median rent moved from $230/wk to $270/wk (+17.4%).
Wards River suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Wards River, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Wards River was $270/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Wards River, NSW?
- Wards River had 178 residents at the 2021 Census, up 0% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Wards River?
- Median household income in Wards River was $783/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Wards River?
- 16.7% of occupied homes in Wards River were rented, 42.2% were owned outright and 17.8% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Wards River suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Wards River. 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