Aberdare, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Aberdare NSW is 2,542 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Aberdare is $640 per week ($33,280 per year). Median rent in Aberdare is $303 per week ($1,313 per month). Aberdare has a median age of 36 years, younger than the national median of 38. Aberdare has a population density of 771 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Aberdare is England. The most common religion is No religion (44.1% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Russian. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Aberdare is $1,421.

There were 44 recorded offences in Aberdare in 2025-26, a rate of 17 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (11 offences).

Population
2,542
Census 2021
Median income
$640/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$303/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
36years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Aberdare vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Aberdare is $640 a week, 16% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,597th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $303 a week, $82 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 24.2% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 36, 7 years younger than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureAberdareTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$640/wk$765/wk −16%$766/wk
Household income$1,251/wk$1,704/wk −27%$1,637/wk
Rent$303/wk$385/wk −21%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,421/mo$1,965/mo −28%$1,733/mo
Median age3643 −7 yrs42
Rent share of household income24.2%22.6% +1.6 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Aberdare, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Aberdare Population

2,542 residents at the 2021 Census.

Aberdare Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$640/wk
$33,280 per year
Ranked 6,433 of 14,663
Median Rent
$303/wk
$1,313 per month
Ranked 4,512 of 14,663
Median Age
36years
2 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$1,421/mo
Avg household size: 2.5 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Aberdare Rent Prices & Affordability

24% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,251/wk
Median rent $303/wk
Rent to income 24.2%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Aberdare against your income

About $5,421 a month
Median rent $303/wk
Left after rent $948/wk
Rent share 24.2%

Aberdare Schools

5
schools nearby
4
government
895
avg ICSEA score
1,568
total students
St Patrick's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 347 students
975
ICSEA
Kearsley Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 114 students
897
ICSEA
Cessnock High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 616 students
892
ICSEA
Cessnock Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 276 students
876
ICSEA
Cessnock East Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 215 students
835
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Aberdare, with a map

Aberdare Map

Aberdare, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
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People in Aberdare

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.1% (1,247) Female 50.9% (1,295)

Population Density

771
people per km²
2,542 people · 3.3 km²

Households

2.5
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,532
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
1.7%
New Zealand
0.7%
Philippines
0.5%
Scotland
0.4%
South Africa
0.4%
Thailand
0.4%
Germany
0.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Russian
0.2%
Thai
0.2%
Gujarati
0.2%
Italian
0.2%
Spanish
0.2%
Afrikaans
0.1%
Mandarin
0.1%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Australian
47.4%
English
44.1%
Scottish
13.1%
Australian Aboriginal
10.7%
Irish
7.1%
German
3.8%
Italian
2.2%
Dutch
1.1%
Filipino
0.8%
Indian
0.6%
Welsh
0.6%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
44.1%
Anglican
19.7%
Catholic
15.6%
Not stated
4.8%
Presbyterian and Reformed
3.5%
Uniting Church
3.3%
Christian (other)
1.6%
Buddhism
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

11.2%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
35.6% 716
Separated
5.4% 108
Divorced
11.1% 224
Widowed
6.0% 120
Never married
42.0% 846

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
36.5%
Couple: no children
24.1%
One parent: children under 15
16.8%
Couple: no children under 15
13.6%
One parent: no children under 15
8.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
30.4%
2 persons
31.8%
3 persons
15.3%
4 persons
14.0%
5 persons
4.9%
6+ persons
3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Aberdare

Housing Tenure

Of the 990 occupied private dwellings in Aberdare at the 2021 Census, 34.9% were rented, 29.6% owned outright and 33.5% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.6% 6 dwellings
Owned outright
29.6% 293 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
33.5% 332 dwellings
Rented
34.9% 346 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.1% 11 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
81.0%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
17.7%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
2.1%
2 bedrooms
25.7%
3 bedrooms
51.0%
4 bedrooms
15.9%
5 bedrooms
3.8%
6+ bedrooms
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
4.7%
$300-$449/mo
2.2%
$450-$599/mo
2.2%
$600-$799/mo
4.3%
$800-$999/mo
8.1%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
28.6%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
26.4%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
16.8%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
4.7%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
4.9%
1 vehicle
39.8%
2 vehicles
32.8%
3 vehicles
13.8%
4+ vehicles
8.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Aberdare

Employment

Employed full-time
31.6% 585 people
Employed part-time
21.2% 393 people
Unemployed
4.6% 85 people
Not in labour force
42.6% 789 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Community & Personal Service
22.5%
Technicians & Trade Workers
22.2%
Professionals
12.7%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
10.8%
Clerical & Administrative
10.4%
Labourers
9.1%
Managers
6.6%
Sales Workers
5.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.6%
$1-$149/wk
1.0%
$150-$299/wk
1.3%
$300-$399/wk
1.8%
$400-$499/wk
11.0%
$500-$649/wk
5.3%
$650-$799/wk
9.7%
$800-$999/wk
9.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.8%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
9.9%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
5.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.0%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.9%
$4,000+/wk
5.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.6%
$1-$149/wk
3.3%
$150-$299/wk
7.5%
$300-$399/wk
6.5%
$400-$499/wk
6.6%
$500-$649/wk
3.9%
$650-$799/wk
10.8%
$800-$999/wk
13.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
14.6%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.3%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
5.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.1%
$3,500+/wk
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
70.0%
Did not go to work
21.5%
Car (passenger)
4.1%
Walked only
1.3%
Truck
1.2%
Other
1.0%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.4%
Bicycle
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 10 or equivalent
41.1%
Year 12 or equivalent
37.5%
Year 9 or equivalent
11.9%
Year 11 or equivalent
9.5%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
64.5%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
15.7%
Bachelor Degree
10.2%
Certificate I/II
5.6%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.0%
Postgraduate Degree
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Engineering
23.0%
Management & Commerce
19.4%
Society & Culture
17.3%
Health
10.3%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
9.0%
Education
7.5%
Architecture & Building
5.6%
Agriculture & Environment
3.0%
Creative Arts
2.0%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.6%
Information Technology
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
32.8%
Secondary: Government
23.4%
Vocational Education
15.7%
Pre-school
10.9%
Primary: Catholic
5.7%
Secondary: Catholic
5.3%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
3.3%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
87.6%
Has need for assistance
8.5%
Need for assistance not stated
3.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
405
Asthma
150
Arthritis
137
Diabetes
100
Lung condition
91
Heart disease
79
Cancer
47
Stroke
45
Kidney disease
43
Dementia
7

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.6% 283
Did not provide
85.4% 1,659

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
10.2% 198
Not a volunteer
89.8% 1,751

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
3.0% 59
Never served
97.0% 1,892

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
28.0%
1 child
14.4%
2 children
27.7%
3 children
17.5%
4 children
8.5%
5+ children
3.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
3
1951: 1960
17
1961: 1970
24
1971: 1980
22
1981: 1990
12
1991: 2000
15
2001: 2010
34
2011: 2015
15
2016
5
2019
3
2020
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

14.9%
moved in the last year
39.6%
moved in the last 5 years
7.5%
unemployment rate (Census)
57.8%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
2,056
Moved from NSW
202
Moved: same area (SA2)
130
Moved from VIC
7
Moved from QLD
6
Moved from overseas
6
Moved from TAS
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
18.7%
5: 14 hours
25.8%
15: 29 hours
12.1%
30+ hours
10.4%
Did not do domestic work
33.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
78.0%
Step family: no other children
14.8%
Blended family: no other children
4.4%
Intact family: other children present
2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Aberdare Crime Statistics

44 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Property
11
Theft
9
Assault
5
Other Against Person
5
Sexual Offences
4
Property Damage
4
Drug Offences
3
Weapons
3

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near Aberdare

The closest suburb to Aberdare is Cessnock, 1.3 km away.

Cessnock
1.3 km away · income $588/wk · rent $320/wk
Abermain
5.6 km away · income $667/wk · rent $320/wk
Bellbird
6.1 km away · income $643/wk · rent $323/wk
Weston (NSW)
7.8 km away · income $635/wk · rent $320/wk
Pelaw Main
9.6 km away · income $626/wk · rent $310/wk
Kurri Kurri
9.7 km away · income $636/wk · rent $320/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Aberdare

What is the population of Aberdare NSW?

The population of Aberdare NSW is 2,542 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 771 people per km². Aberdare is ranked #2,695 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Aberdare?

The median personal income in Aberdare NSW is $640 per week, or $33,280 per year. The median household income is $1,251 per week. Family income is $1,532 per week. Aberdare is ranked #6,433 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Aberdare?

Median rent in Aberdare NSW is $303 per week ($1,313 per month). Rent represents 24.2% of household income, which is considered affordable. Aberdare ranks #4,512 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Aberdare?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Aberdare NSW is $1,421. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Aberdare?

The median age in Aberdare NSW is 36 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Aberdare a good suburb to live in?

Aberdare is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 2,542. The median income is $640/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (24.2% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 10006. All dollar figures in AUD.