🔍

North Rothbury

NSW 2335 • Rest of NSW

2,502
Population (2021)
$114,712
Median Household Income
15.91 km²
Area
$450/wk
Median Rent
Growth SuburbNew DevelopmentFamily-FriendlySemi-Rural

About North Rothbury

North Rothbury is a growing suburban locality in the Cessnock City Council area of the Hunter Valley, approximately 25 kilometres west of Newcastle and around 8 kilometres north of Cessnock. Covering nearly 16 square kilometres at an elevation of about 59 metres, the suburb is the site of Huntlee — a master-planned residential community that has seen rapid population growth, with 2,502 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. The relatively young median age of 30 and the concentration of residents aged 25-44 with young families reflects Huntlee's appeal to first-home buyers attracted by new housing stock and competitive land prices.

Huntlee's town centre offers residents access to a Woolworths supermarket, specialty stores, and local services within the development itself, reducing the need to travel to Cessnock for everyday needs. The Hunter Valley wine country is on the doorstep, with the renowned Pokolbin and Lovedale wine regions a short drive away. Public transport connections to Maitland and Newcastle exist via bus routes, though most residents rely on cars given the area's semi-rural setting. New schools, parks, and community infrastructure continue to be established as the suburb grows.

North Rothbury falls under postcode 2335 and is governed by Cessnock Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Cessnock electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2335
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Cessnock
Federal Electorate
Hunter
State Electorate
Cessnock
Type
Rural
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-32.69°, 151.35°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
15.91 km²
Elevation
59m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

Median sale prices in North Rothbury for 2025. Based on every residential settlement recorded by the NSW Valuer General in 2025.

🏡House
$800K
186 sales · ▲ 3.9% vs 2024

Source: NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information. Strata-titled sales are counted as units; all others as houses. Suburbs with fewer than 5 sales in a category are omitted.

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$450
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$2,000
Avg Household Size
2.9 people
Median Age
30 years

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Maitland
15 km
N/A (drive)

Bus Services

  • Hunter Valley Bus Services — Cessnock and Maitland 20-35 min

Commute to Newcastle CBD

Distance
25 km
By Train
No direct train; bus to Maitland then train to Newcastle, approx 60-75 min total
By Car (Peak)
30-45 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
25-35 min

🛣️ Most residents commute by car via Wine Country Drive or New England Highway; Maitland is the nearest rail hub

Walkability Car-Dependent

The Huntlee town centre provides some walkable amenities within the development, but most errands beyond the local shops require a car

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest 2025 rates for the Cessnock Local Government Area, which contains North Rothbury. Rates are per 100,000 residents; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods ending Dec 2025.

Break & enter (dwelling)
344.6 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 6.1%
Motor vehicle theft
559.5 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Non-DV assault
474.4 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 2.3%
Robbery (unarmed)
2.9 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
377.8 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 7.5%
View all 62 offence types for Cessnock →

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR)

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
898
Census 2021
2,502
▲ 178.6% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$36,920
Personal Income 2021
$53,300
▲ 44.4% increase

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$53,300 / yr
$1025/wk
Household
$114,712 / yr
$2206/wk
Family
$123,812 / yr
$2381/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 2,179
Born Overseas 246

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 51
  • 2. New Zealand 33
  • 3. South Africa 19
  • 4. Philippines 18
  • 5. India 10
  • 6. Hong Kong 9
  • 7. Sri Lanka 8
  • 8. Italy 7
  • 9. Cambodia 6
  • 10. Germany 6

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 1,118
English 1,070
Irish 272
Scottish 268
Australian Aboriginal 197
German 125
Italian 78
Dutch 30
Polish 27
Filipino 23

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

1,858
Both parents born in Australia
294
Both parents born overseas
260
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
49.4%
No Religion
43.9%
Buddhism
0.8%
Hinduism
0.2%
Judaism
0.2%
Islam
0.1%
Sikhism
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
271 (10.8%)
5-14 years
431 (17.2%)
15-19 years
142 (5.7%)
20-24 years
142 (5.7%)
25-34 years
511 (20.4%)
35-44 years
398 (15.9%)
45-54 years
240 (9.6%)
55-64 years
206 (8.2%)
65-74 years
127 (5.1%)
75-84 years
47 (1.9%)
85+ years
6 (0.2%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is North Rothbury known for? +

North Rothbury is known as the location of Huntlee, a large master-planned community in the Hunter Valley. It has been one of the Hunter region's fastest-growing residential areas, offering new housing and its own town centre close to the famous Hunter Valley wine country.

How far is North Rothbury from Newcastle? +

North Rothbury is approximately 25 kilometres west of Newcastle CBD, making it a 30-45 minute drive in peak traffic via the Hunter Expressway or Wine Country Drive.

Does North Rothbury have public transport? +

Bus services connect North Rothbury to Cessnock and Maitland. There is no train station in North Rothbury; the nearest rail connection is at Maitland station (about 15 km away) on the Hunter Line. Most residents rely on private vehicles.

What is the population of North Rothbury? +

North Rothbury had a population of approximately 2,502 residents at the 2021 Census, reflecting rapid growth driven by the Huntlee development. The community is notably young, with a median age of 30 and many young families.

Is North Rothbury a good place to live? +

North Rothbury suits first-home buyers and young families seeking new homes with modern amenities at accessible prices. The Huntlee town centre provides convenient local shopping, and the Hunter Valley wine country and outdoor lifestyle are on the doorstep, though most residents commute by car.

What is the postcode for North Rothbury? +

The postcode for North Rothbury, NSW is 2335.

What is the average income in North Rothbury? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in North Rothbury is about $1,025 per week (around $53,300 per year). The median household income is $2,206 per week and the median family income is $2,381 per week.

What is the median house price in North Rothbury? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $800,000, up 3.9% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of North Rothbury? +

The median age in North Rothbury is 30. The largest age group is 25–34 (511 residents, around 20%). Around 34% of residents are under 20 and about 7% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is North Rothbury a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. North Rothbury is part of the Cessnock LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

How much is rent in North Rothbury? +

In North Rothbury, the median weekly rent is $450, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $2,000 (2021 Census).