Cessnock, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Cessnock NSW is 16,300 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Cessnock is $588 per week ($30,576 per year). Median rent in Cessnock is $320 per week ($1,387 per month). Cessnock has a median age of 40 years, older than the national median of 38. Cessnock has a population density of 454 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Cessnock is England. The most common religion is No religion (36.7% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Thai. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cessnock is $1,499.

There were 537 recorded offences in Cessnock in 2025-26, a rate of 33 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (161 offences).

Population
16,300
Census 2021
Median income
$588/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$320/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
40years
Census 2021

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

Cessnock vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Cessnock is $588 a week, 23% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,793rd of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $320 a week, $65 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 26.8% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 40, 3 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.
MeasureCessnockTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$588/wk$765/wk −23%$766/wk
Household income$1,192/wk$1,704/wk −30%$1,637/wk
Rent$320/wk$385/wk −17%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,499/mo$1,965/mo −24%$1,733/mo
Median age4043 −3 yrs42
Rent share of household income26.8%22.6% +4.3 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 Cessnock, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Cessnock Population

16,300 residents at the 2021 Census.

Cessnock Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$588/wk
$30,576 per year
Ranked 7,257 of 14,663
Median Rent
$320/wk
$1,387 per month
Ranked 4,051 of 14,663
Median Age
40years
2 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,499/mo
Avg household size: 2.4 · 0.8 per bedroom

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

Cessnock Rent Prices & Affordability

27% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,192/wk
Median rent $320/wk
Rent to income 26.8%

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

Median rent in Cessnock against your income

About $5,165 a month
Median rent $320/wk
Left after rent $872/wk
Rent share 26.8%

Cessnock Schools

7
schools nearby
6
government
899
avg ICSEA score
2,356
total students
St Patrick's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 347 students
975
ICSEA
Nulkaba Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 389 students
931
ICSEA
Kearsley Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 114 students
897
ICSEA
Cessnock High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 616 students
892
ICSEA
Cessnock West Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 399 students
884
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 Cessnock, with a map

Cessnock Map

Cessnock, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
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Cessnock, New South Wales: 32.8335°S, 151.3670°E

Cessnock Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (7)

People in Cessnock

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 52.1% (8,483) Female 47.9% (7,812)

Population Density

454
people per km²
16,300 people · 35.9 km²

Households

2.4
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,471
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
1.8%
New Zealand
1.1%
Philippines
0.5%
Scotland
0.4%
Thailand
0.3%
India
0.2%
Germany
0.2%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Thai
0.3%
Tagalog
0.2%
Mandarin
0.2%
Nepali
0.2%
Spanish
0.2%
Cantonese
0.1%
Filipino
0.1%

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

Ancestry

Australian
40.0%
English
38.3%
Scottish
11.3%
Australian Aboriginal
9.0%
Irish
8.1%
German
3.5%
Italian
1.4%
Dutch
0.8%
Filipino
0.8%
Chinese
0.6%
New Zealander
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
36.7%
Anglican
18.8%
Not stated
16.2%
Catholic
15.1%
Uniting Church
3.8%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.6%
Christian (other)
1.4%
Baptist
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

12.3%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
36.5% 4,935
Separated
4.7% 629
Divorced
10.4% 1,409
Widowed
7.5% 1,015
Never married
40.9% 5,519

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
32.1%
Couple: no children
26.9%
One parent: children under 15
18.3%
Couple: no children under 15
12.6%
One parent: no children under 15
10.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
30.5%
2 persons
33.7%
3 persons
15.2%
4 persons
11.9%
5 persons
5.8%
6+ persons
2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Cessnock

Housing Tenure

Of the 5,643 occupied private dwellings in Cessnock at the 2021 Census, 37.7% were rented, 30.9% owned outright and 27.8% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.9% 110 dwellings
Owned outright
30.9% 1,744 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
27.8% 1,567 dwellings
Rented
37.7% 2,128 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.8% 100 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
86.7%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
11.5%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
4.8%
2 bedrooms
20.7%
3 bedrooms
48.6%
4 bedrooms
23.3%
5 bedrooms
2.3%
6+ bedrooms
0.4%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
4.2%
$300-$449/mo
2.9%
$450-$599/mo
2.2%
$600-$799/mo
3.9%
$800-$999/mo
7.4%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
24.6%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
28.3%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
17.9%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
4.8%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
7.8%
1 vehicle
40.6%
2 vehicles
33.7%
3 vehicles
11.9%
4+ vehicles
6.0%

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

Work, income and education in Cessnock

Employment

Employed full-time
24.3% 2,943 people
Employed part-time
16.2% 1,960 people
Unemployed
3.3% 404 people
Not in labour force
56.2% 6,799 people

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

Occupation

Technicians & Trade Workers
21.1%
Community & Personal Service
18.7%
Professionals
15.8%
Clerical & Administrative
10.2%
Managers
9.6%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
9.4%
Labourers
8.8%
Sales Workers
6.5%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.8%
$1-$149/wk
0.7%
$150-$299/wk
1.4%
$300-$399/wk
3.5%
$400-$499/wk
9.2%
$500-$649/wk
7.6%
$650-$799/wk
9.4%
$800-$999/wk
9.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.3%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.3%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
10.5%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.4%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.3%
$4,000+/wk
4.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.1%
$1-$149/wk
3.9%
$150-$299/wk
7.3%
$300-$399/wk
7.7%
$400-$499/wk
7.0%
$500-$649/wk
4.8%
$650-$799/wk
11.4%
$800-$999/wk
11.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.2%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.3%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.7%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
6.4%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.8%
$3,500+/wk
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
69.4%
Did not go to work
20.9%
Car (passenger)
4.5%
Walked only
2.4%
Truck
1.2%
Other
0.4%
Bus
0.3%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.3%
Bicycle
0.2%
Ferry
0.1%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.1%
Train
0.1%

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

Education Level

Year 10 or equivalent
41.3%
Year 12 or equivalent
35.8%
Year 9 or equivalent
13.5%
Year 11 or equivalent
9.4%

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

Certificate III/IV
59.7%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
16.4%
Bachelor Degree
14.2%
Certificate I/II
4.7%
Postgraduate Degree
2.6%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.3%

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

Field of Study

Engineering
22.1%
Management & Commerce
20.2%
Society & Culture
13.8%
Health
12.5%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
11.3%
Education
7.5%
Architecture & Building
5.0%
Agriculture & Environment
2.7%
Creative Arts
2.1%
Information Technology
1.4%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.3%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
31.5%
Secondary: Government
23.4%
Vocational Education
13.8%
Pre-school
12.2%
Primary: Catholic
6.1%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
4.6%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
4.5%
Secondary: Catholic
3.9%

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
74.5%
Has need for assistance
10.5%
Need for assistance not stated
15.1%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
2,356
Arthritis
820
Asthma
711
Diabetes
572
Lung condition
547
Heart disease
531
Kidney disease
276
Cancer
266
Stroke
266
Dementia
122

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
15.0% 1,677
Did not provide
85.0% 9,474

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
9.2% 1,028
Not a volunteer
90.8% 10,165

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.1% 6
Current ADF: Reserves
0.1% 9
Previously served
3.0% 340
Never served
96.8% 10,847

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
28.1%
1 child
11.7%
2 children
29.6%
3 children
19.0%
4 children
8.8%
5+ children
2.7%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
39
1951: 1960
106
1961: 1970
154
1971: 1980
101
1981: 1990
131
1991: 2000
93
2001: 2010
156
2011: 2015
86
2016
35
2017
28
2018
35
2019
29
2020
16

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

Population Mobility

15.3%
moved in the last year
43.8%
moved in the last 5 years
6.8%
unemployment rate (Census)
43.7%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
11,537
Moved from NSW
1,096
Moved: same area (SA2)
829
Moved from overseas
34
Moved from QLD
26
Moved from VIC
13
Moved from WA
12
Moved from NT
6
Moved from SA
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
17.3%
5: 14 hours
25.0%
15: 29 hours
13.2%
30+ hours
10.6%
Did not do domestic work
34.0%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
75.9%
Step family: no other children
12.7%
Blended family: no other children
7.6%
Other couple: children only
1.9%
Intact family: other children present
1.6%
Blended family: other children present
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cessnock Crime Statistics

537 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
161
Other Against Property
140
Assault
66
Property Damage
63
Other Against Person
62
Sexual Offences
23
Drug Offences
16
Weapons
4
Robbery
1
Domestic Violence
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Lake Cargelligo
Income: $641/wk Rent: $170/wk $150/wk less rent
Lavington
Income: $647/wk Rent: $250/wk $70/wk less rent
South Grafton
Income: $526/wk Rent: $280/wk $40/wk less rent
Berkeley
Income: $568/wk Rent: $290/wk $30/wk less rent
West Kempsey
Income: $493/wk Rent: $290/wk $30/wk less rent
Nowra
Income: $554/wk Rent: $300/wk $20/wk less rent
Riverwood
Income: $564/wk Rent: $300/wk $20/wk less rent
Carramar (NSW)
Income: $529/wk Rent: $300/wk $20/wk less rent

Suburbs near Cessnock

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

Aberdare
1.3 km away · income $640/wk · rent $303/wk
Bellbird
5.2 km away · income $643/wk · rent $323/wk
Abermain
6.6 km away · income $667/wk · rent $320/wk
Weston (NSW)
8.7 km away · income $635/wk · rent $320/wk
Kurri Kurri
10.7 km away · income $636/wk · rent $320/wk
Pelaw Main
10.8 km away · income $626/wk · rent $310/wk

Compare Cessnock

Frequently Asked Questions About Cessnock

What is the population of Cessnock NSW?

The population of Cessnock NSW is 16,300 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 454 people per km². Cessnock is ranked #236 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Cessnock?

The median personal income in Cessnock NSW is $588 per week, or $30,576 per year. The median household income is $1,192 per week. Family income is $1,471 per week. Cessnock is ranked #7,257 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Cessnock?

Median rent in Cessnock NSW is $320 per week ($1,387 per month). Rent represents 26.8% of household income, which is considered moderate. Cessnock ranks #4,051 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Cessnock?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cessnock NSW is $1,499. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Cessnock?

The median age in Cessnock NSW is 40 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Cessnock a good suburb to live in?

Cessnock is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 16,300. The median income is $588/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (26.8% 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: 10877. All dollar figures in AUD.