Pelaw Main, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Pelaw Main NSW is 1,080 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Pelaw Main is $626 per week ($32,552 per year). Median rent in Pelaw Main is $310 per week ($1,343 per month). Pelaw Main has a median age of 39 years, older than the national median of 38. Pelaw Main has a population density of 116 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Pelaw Main is England. The most common religion is No religion (43.8% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Thai. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Pelaw Main is $1,447.

There were 18 recorded offences in Pelaw Main in 2025-26, a rate of 17 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (7 offences).

Population
1,080
Census 2021
Median income
$626/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$310/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
39years
Census 2021

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

Pelaw Main vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Pelaw Main is $626 a week, 18% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,651st of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $310 a week, $75 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 26.4% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 39, 4 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.
MeasurePelaw MainTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$626/wk$765/wk −18%$766/wk
Household income$1,174/wk$1,704/wk −31%$1,637/wk
Rent$310/wk$385/wk −19%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,447/mo$1,965/mo −26%$1,733/mo
Median age3943 −4 yrs42
Rent share of household income26.4%22.6% +3.8 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 Pelaw Main, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Pelaw Main Population

1,080 residents at the 2021 Census.

Pelaw Main Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$626/wk
$32,552 per year
Ranked 6,677 of 14,663
Median Rent
$310/wk
$1,343 per month
Ranked 4,328 of 14,663
Median Age
39years
1 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,447/mo
Avg household size: 2.4 · 0.8 per bedroom

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

Pelaw Main Rent Prices & Affordability

26% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,174/wk
Median rent $310/wk
Rent to income 26.4%

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

Median rent in Pelaw Main against your income

About $5,087 a month
Median rent $310/wk
Left after rent $864/wk
Rent share 26.4%

Pelaw Main Schools

6
schools nearby
5
government
919
avg ICSEA score
2,116
total students
Holy Spirit Primary School Catholic
Primary · 3-6 · 186 students
994
ICSEA
Stanford Merthyr Infants School Government
Primary · K-2 · 54 students
950
ICSEA
Pelaw Main Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 115 students
901
ICSEA
Kurri Kurri High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 917 students
894
ICSEA
Kurri Kurri Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 574 students
891
ICSEA
Weston Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 270 students
882
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 Pelaw Main, with a map

Pelaw Main Map

Pelaw Main, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
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Pelaw Main, New South Wales: 32.8375°S, 151.4827°E

Pelaw Main Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (6)

People in Pelaw Main

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 50.7% (549) Female 49.3% (533)

Population Density

116
people per km²
1,080 people · 9.3 km²

Households

2.4
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,612
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%
Thailand
0.6%
New Zealand
0.5%
Germany
0.4%
Ireland
0.4%
Philippines
0.4%
Indonesia
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

Thai
0.7%
Polish
0.4%
Filipino
0.3%
Indonesian
0.3%
Afrikaans
0.0%
Arabic
0.0%
Australian Indigenous Languages
0.0%

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

Ancestry

Australian
45.9%
English
45.1%
Scottish
12.0%
Irish
11.4%
Australian Aboriginal
10.9%
German
3.7%
Italian
2.8%
Filipino
1.3%
Maltese
0.8%
New Zealander
0.8%
Polish
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
43.8%
Anglican
19.8%
Catholic
19.2%
Not stated
3.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.4%
Uniting Church
2.3%
Christian (other)
1.9%
Baptist
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

10.8%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
37.9% 330
Separated
4.1% 36
Divorced
11.8% 103
Widowed
6.6% 57
Never married
39.5% 344

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
33.8%
Couple: no children
26.1%
One parent: children under 15
15.3%
Couple: no children under 15
15.1%
One parent: no children under 15
9.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
29.5%
2 persons
34.3%
3 persons
15.3%
4 persons
10.8%
5 persons
4.3%
6+ persons
5.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Pelaw Main

Housing Tenure

Of the 424 occupied private dwellings in Pelaw Main at the 2021 Census, 29.0% were rented, 34.9% owned outright and 34.9% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.7% 3 dwellings
Owned outright
34.9% 148 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
34.9% 148 dwellings
Rented
29.0% 123 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.1% 9 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
95.5%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
4.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
1.4%
2 bedrooms
22.4%
3 bedrooms
53.8%
4 bedrooms
17.5%
5 bedrooms
4.2%
6+ bedrooms
0.7%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
4.2%
$450-$599/mo
2.8%
$600-$799/mo
4.9%
$800-$999/mo
9.0%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
26.4%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
25.0%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
19.4%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
8.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
6.5%
1 vehicle
34.3%
2 vehicles
38.1%
3 vehicles
12.0%
4+ vehicles
9.1%

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

Work, income and education in Pelaw Main

Employment

Employed full-time
30.5% 244 people
Employed part-time
18.4% 147 people
Unemployed
3.8% 30 people
Not in labour force
47.3% 378 people

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

Occupation

Technicians & Trade Workers
25.9%
Community & Personal Service
18.9%
Professionals
12.0%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
10.0%
Clerical & Administrative
10.0%
Sales Workers
9.3%
Labourers
8.1%
Managers
5.8%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.0%
$150-$299/wk
1.5%
$300-$399/wk
4.4%
$400-$499/wk
6.9%
$500-$649/wk
8.1%
$650-$799/wk
10.1%
$800-$999/wk
10.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.6%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.9%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.2%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
14.0%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
4.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
5.2%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.0%
$4,000+/wk
3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.5%
$1-$149/wk
2.5%
$150-$299/wk
8.4%
$300-$399/wk
8.7%
$400-$499/wk
4.9%
$500-$649/wk
4.3%
$650-$799/wk
11.4%
$800-$999/wk
14.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
13.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
3.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.4%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
5.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
72.7%
Did not go to work
19.0%
Car (passenger)
4.7%
Walked only
1.0%
Motorbike/Scooter
1.0%
Truck
0.8%
Bus
0.8%

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

Education Level

Year 10 or equivalent
43.6%
Year 12 or equivalent
32.5%
Year 9 or equivalent
15.6%
Year 11 or equivalent
8.3%

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
61.8%
Bachelor Degree
14.1%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
12.8%
Certificate I/II
5.5%
Postgraduate Degree
3.1%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.6%

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

Field of Study

Engineering
22.3%
Management & Commerce
17.7%
Society & Culture
16.2%
Health
11.2%
Education
8.1%
Architecture & Building
8.1%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.5%
Agriculture & Environment
5.4%
Information Technology
1.9%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.5%
Creative Arts
1.2%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
41.0%
Secondary: Government
24.0%
Pre-school
10.6%
Vocational Education
10.1%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
4.6%
Primary: Catholic
4.1%
Secondary: Catholic
4.1%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
1.4%

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
88.0%
Has need for assistance
9.4%
Need for assistance not stated
2.6%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
174
Arthritis
58
Diabetes
52
Lung condition
44
Heart disease
43
Asthma
43
Stroke
22
Cancer
20
Kidney disease
10
Dementia
9

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.2% 120
Did not provide
85.8% 726

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
8.6% 72
Not a volunteer
91.4% 768

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
3.1% 26
Never served
96.9% 821

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
24.6%
1 child
9.3%
2 children
30.3%
3 children
21.6%
4 children
10.8%
5+ children
3.5%

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

When Migrants Arrived

1951: 1960
5
1961: 1970
14
1971: 1980
9
1981: 1990
8
1991: 2000
4
2001: 2010
9

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

Population Mobility

11.7%
moved in the last year
40.8%
moved in the last 5 years
7.0%
unemployment rate (Census)
54.0%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
910
Moved from NSW
83
Moved: same area (SA2)
35

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
16.5%
5: 14 hours
25.8%
15: 29 hours
11.4%
30+ hours
10.5%
Did not do domestic work
35.8%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
68.5%
Step family: no other children
15.7%
Blended family: no other children
7.4%
Other couple: children only
5.6%
Step family: other children present
2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Pelaw Main Crime Statistics

18 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Property
7
Other Against Person
3
Theft
3
Property Damage
2
Assault
1
Sexual Offences
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

Wallerawang
Income: $666/wk Rent: $275/wk $35/wk less rent
South Lismore
Income: $638/wk Rent: $300/wk $10/wk less rent
Lake Cargelligo
Income: $641/wk Rent: $170/wk $140/wk less rent
Wee Waa
Income: $689/wk Rent: $200/wk $110/wk less rent
Avondale (NSW)
Income: $725/wk Rent: $300/wk $10/wk less rent
Aberdeen (NSW)
Income: $716/wk Rent: $280/wk $30/wk less rent
East Kempsey
Income: $635/wk Rent: $300/wk $10/wk less rent
The Rock
Income: $636/wk Rent: $245/wk $65/wk less rent

Suburbs near Pelaw Main

The closest suburb to Pelaw Main is Kurri Kurri, 2.6 km away.

Kurri Kurri
2.6 km away · income $636/wk · rent $320/wk
Weston (NSW)
3.9 km away · income $635/wk · rent $320/wk
Heddon Greta
4.0 km away · income $907/wk · rent $420/wk
Abermain
4.6 km away · income $667/wk · rent $320/wk
Cliftleigh
6.4 km away · income $937/wk · rent $435/wk
Gillieston Heights
9.1 km away · income $947/wk · rent $430/wk

Compare Pelaw Main

Frequently Asked Questions About Pelaw Main

What is the population of Pelaw Main NSW?

The population of Pelaw Main NSW is 1,080 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 116 people per km². Pelaw Main is ranked #3,859 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Pelaw Main?

The median personal income in Pelaw Main NSW is $626 per week, or $32,552 per year. The median household income is $1,174 per week. Family income is $1,612 per week. Pelaw Main is ranked #6,677 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Pelaw Main?

Median rent in Pelaw Main NSW is $310 per week ($1,343 per month). Rent represents 26.4% of household income, which is considered moderate. Pelaw Main ranks #4,328 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Pelaw Main?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Pelaw Main NSW is $1,447. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Pelaw Main?

The median age in Pelaw Main NSW is 39 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Pelaw Main a good suburb to live in?

Pelaw Main is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 1,080. The median income is $626/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (26.4% 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: 13188. All dollar figures in AUD.