Bellingen, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Bellingen NSW is 3,923 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Bellingen is $651 per week ($33,852 per year). Median rent in Bellingen is $390 per week ($1,690 per month). Bellingen has a median age of 44 years, older than the national median of 38. Bellingen has a population density of 88 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Bellingen is England. The most common religion is No religion (59.4% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is German. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bellingen is $1,477.

There were 72 recorded offences in Bellingen in 2025-26, a rate of 18 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was assault (22 offences).

Population
3,923
Census 2021
Median income
$651/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$390/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
44years
Census 2021

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

Bellingen vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Bellingen is $651 a week, 15% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,565th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $390 a week, $5 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 30.8% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 44, 1 year older 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.
MeasureBellingenTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$651/wk$765/wk −15%$766/wk
Household income$1,268/wk$1,704/wk −26%$1,637/wk
Rent$390/wk$385/wk +1%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,477/mo$1,965/mo −25%$1,733/mo
Median age4443 +1 yrs42
Rent share of household income30.8%22.6% +8.2 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 Bellingen, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Bellingen Population

3,923 residents at the 2021 Census.

Bellingen Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$651/wk
$33,852 per year
Ranked 6,316 of 14,663
Median Rent
$390/wk
$1,690 per month
Ranked 2,258 of 14,663
Median Age
44years
6 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,477/mo
Avg household size: 2.4 · 0.8 per bedroom

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

Bellingen Rent Prices & Affordability

31% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,268/wk
Median rent $390/wk
Rent to income 30.8%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Bellingen against your income

About $5,495 a month
Median rent $390/wk
Left after rent $878/wk
Rent share 30.8%

Bellingen Schools

5
schools nearby
2
government
1014
avg ICSEA score
926
total students
St Mary's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 123 students
1039
ICSEA
Bellingen High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 584 students
1006
ICSEA
Bellingen Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 219 students
998
ICSEA
Chrysalis School for Rudolf Steiner Education Stage 5 Campus Independent
Secondary
Chrysalis School for Rudolf Steiner Education - Bellingen Campus Independent
Primary

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

All schools near Bellingen, with a map

Bellingen Map

Bellingen, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
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Bellingen, New South Wales: 30.4540°S, 152.8914°E

Bellingen Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (5)

People in Bellingen

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 46.2% (1,811) Female 53.8% (2,111)

Population Density

88
people per km²
3,923 people · 44.6 km²

Households

2.4
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,535
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
5.3%
New Zealand
1.8%
Germany
0.9%
South Africa
0.8%
Scotland
0.7%
Netherlands
0.7%
United States of America
0.6%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

German
1.1%
Spanish
0.5%
French
0.5%
Nepali
0.3%
Indonesian
0.3%
Italian
0.2%
Punjabi
0.2%

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

Ancestry

English
44.0%
Australian
37.0%
Irish
15.2%
Scottish
13.4%
German
5.4%
Australian Aboriginal
4.2%
Dutch
2.4%
Italian
2.4%
Welsh
1.1%
New Zealander
0.9%
French
0.9%

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
59.4%
Not stated
10.0%
Catholic
9.4%
Anglican
8.1%
Uniting Church
2.8%
Buddhism
1.8%
Christian (other)
1.6%
Presbyterian and Reformed
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

4.3%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
37.2% 1,151
Separated
4.3% 134
Divorced
14.2% 441
Widowed
6.4% 197
Never married
37.9% 1,172

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
39.8%
Couple: no children
25.9%
One parent: children under 15
15.6%
Couple: no children under 15
11.6%
One parent: no children under 15
7.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
29.2%
2 persons
33.4%
3 persons
15.4%
4 persons
13.6%
5 persons
5.7%
6+ persons
2.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Bellingen

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,469 occupied private dwellings in Bellingen at the 2021 Census, 25.9% were rented, 38.9% owned outright and 32.5% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.7% 25 dwellings
Owned outright
38.9% 571 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
32.5% 478 dwellings
Rented
25.9% 380 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.2% 17 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
94.3%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
4.7%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
4.2%
2 bedrooms
17.0%
3 bedrooms
46.6%
4 bedrooms
26.1%
5 bedrooms
5.4%
6+ bedrooms
0.8%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.8%
$300-$449/mo
3.8%
$450-$599/mo
3.8%
$600-$799/mo
4.5%
$800-$999/mo
8.7%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
20.4%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
18.2%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
20.9%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
9.6%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
4.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
3.5%
1 vehicle
42.2%
2 vehicles
38.1%
3 vehicles
11.4%
4+ vehicles
4.7%

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

Work, income and education in Bellingen

Employment

Employed full-time
25.2% 696 people
Employed part-time
29.9% 825 people
Unemployed
3.8% 106 people
Not in labour force
41.0% 1,131 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
38.7%
Community & Personal Service
15.1%
Managers
12.4%
Technicians & Trade Workers
12.4%
Clerical & Administrative
9.3%
Labourers
5.0%
Sales Workers
4.7%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.4%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.7%
$1-$149/wk
0.6%
$150-$299/wk
1.2%
$300-$399/wk
3.5%
$400-$499/wk
8.7%
$500-$649/wk
5.9%
$650-$799/wk
8.8%
$800-$999/wk
8.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
7.0%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
10.3%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
5.9%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.5%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.1%
$4,000+/wk
4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.9%
$1-$149/wk
5.2%
$150-$299/wk
7.8%
$300-$399/wk
5.8%
$400-$499/wk
4.9%
$500-$649/wk
4.3%
$650-$799/wk
12.4%
$800-$999/wk
12.0%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
4.9%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.7%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
6.5%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.5%
$3,500+/wk
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
67.3%
Did not go to work
15.6%
Walked only
8.5%
Car (passenger)
4.9%
Truck
1.6%
Bicycle
1.2%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.6%
Other
0.4%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
61.9%
Year 10 or equivalent
24.4%
Year 11 or equivalent
7.3%
Year 9 or equivalent
6.4%

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

Bachelor Degree
31.6%
Certificate III/IV
29.9%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
19.6%
Postgraduate Degree
10.0%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
7.0%
Certificate I/II
1.8%

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

Field of Study

Society & Culture
18.5%
Health
15.7%
Education
12.8%
Management & Commerce
11.9%
Engineering
9.6%
Creative Arts
8.6%
Architecture & Building
6.8%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.0%
Agriculture & Environment
5.0%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.0%
Information Technology
2.1%

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

School & University Attendance

Secondary: Government
29.7%
Primary: Government
24.6%
Vocational Education
11.8%
Primary: Catholic
10.0%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
8.7%
Pre-school
7.6%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
6.2%
Secondary: Catholic
1.5%

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
86.3%
Has need for assistance
6.0%
Need for assistance not stated
7.8%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
440
Asthma
133
Arthritis
131
Lung condition
95
Heart disease
78
Cancer
71
Diabetes
61
Stroke
54
Kidney disease
32
Dementia
19

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
16.0% 453
Did not provide
84.0% 2,380

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
24.9% 705
Not a volunteer
75.1% 2,125

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
2.6% 74
Never served
97.4% 2,769

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
28.6%
1 child
11.5%
2 children
31.8%
3 children
17.5%
4 children
9.2%
5+ children
1.5%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
15
1951: 1960
31
1961: 1970
87
1971: 1980
81
1981: 1990
100
1991: 2000
74
2001: 2010
101
2011: 2015
45
2016
16
2017
8
2018
3
2019
9
2020
3

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

Population Mobility

13.9%
moved in the last year
42.1%
moved in the last 5 years
6.1%
unemployment rate (Census)
55.5%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
3,089
Moved from NSW
233
Moved: same area (SA2)
173
Moved from VIC
29
Moved from QLD
21
Moved from overseas
19
Moved from NT
9
Moved from ACT
5
Moved from SA
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
19.4%
5: 14 hours
34.1%
15: 29 hours
17.9%
30+ hours
11.3%
Did not do domestic work
17.3%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
78.6%
Step family: no other children
11.8%
Blended family: no other children
8.0%
Intact family: other children present
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Bellingen Crime Statistics

72 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Assault
22
Other Against Person
15
Theft
14
Property Damage
12
Other Against Property
6
Sexual Offences
1
Domestic Violence
1
Drug Offences
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Hamilton South
Income: $770/wk Rent: $162/wk $228/wk less rent
Darlington Point
Income: $736/wk Rent: $200/wk $190/wk less rent
Narrandera
Income: $626/wk Rent: $210/wk $180/wk less rent
Culcairn
Income: $623/wk Rent: $220/wk $170/wk less rent
Guyra
Income: $639/wk Rent: $260/wk $130/wk less rent
Cooma (NSW)
Income: $771/wk Rent: $290/wk $100/wk less rent
Coutts Crossing
Income: $536/wk Rent: $300/wk $90/wk less rent
Budgewoi
Income: $663/wk Rent: $350/wk $40/wk less rent

Suburbs near Bellingen

The closest suburb to Bellingen is Urunga, 11.8 km away.

Urunga
11.8 km away · income $590/wk · rent $340/wk
Bonville
14.9 km away · income $733/wk · rent $465/wk
Valla
15.8 km away · income $674/wk · rent $310/wk
Valla Beach
18.5 km away · income $597/wk · rent $400/wk

Compare Bellingen

Frequently Asked Questions About Bellingen

What is the population of Bellingen NSW?

The population of Bellingen NSW is 3,923 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 88 people per km². Bellingen is ranked #1,955 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Bellingen?

The median personal income in Bellingen NSW is $651 per week, or $33,852 per year. The median household income is $1,268 per week. Family income is $1,535 per week. Bellingen is ranked #6,316 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Bellingen?

Median rent in Bellingen NSW is $390 per week ($1,690 per month). Rent represents 30.8% of household income, which is considered moderate. Bellingen ranks #2,258 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Bellingen?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bellingen NSW is $1,477. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Bellingen?

The median age in Bellingen NSW is 44 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Bellingen a good suburb to live in?

Bellingen is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 3,923. The median income is $651/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (30.8% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 10273. All dollar figures in AUD.