Bellbird vs Cessnock
Bellbird (median $625,000) is roughly 7% cheaper to buy into than Cessnock ($669,000). Over the past year, Bellbird (+9.2%) ran 2.2 percentage points ahead of Cessnock (+7%) on house-price growth.
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Bellbird and Cessnock side by side
| Measure | Bellbird | Cessnock |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $625,000 | $669,000 |
| Median unit | $242,640 | $520,000 |
| House price change, 12 months | +9.2% | +7.0% |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $590/wk | $590/wk |
| Unit rent | $480/wk | $480/wk |
| Owner occupied | 71.0% | 59.0% |
| Renter occupied | 25.0% | 38.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 14 | 14 |
| Average ICSEA | 917 | 919 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 0 | 36 |
| Transit score | 0 | 0 |
| Bike score | 40 | 100 |
| Population | 2,338 | 16,300 |
| Median age | 34 | 40 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 759 mm | 760 mm |
| Mean max, January | 29.8°C | 30.4°C |
Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.
Which suits whom
Cessnock scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 36/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Cessnock (919) sits above Bellbird (917). Bellbird skews owner-occupied (71%), Cessnock runs more rental-dense (59% owner).
- For buyers
- Bellbird is the lower entry point at $625,000 median, 7% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
- For investors
- Bellbird carries both higher gross yield (4.91% vs 4.59%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
- For families
- Cessnock edges out on average school ICSEA (919 vs 917). Bellbird also has a higher family-household share (77% vs 67%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Bellbird vs Cessnock: common questions
Is Bellbird or Cessnock cheaper to buy in?
Bellbird has the lower median house price at $625,000, roughly 7% below Cessnock ($669,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Bellbird or Cessnock?
Over the past 12 months, Bellbird grew +9.2% vs +7% in Cessnock, a gap of 2.2 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Bellbird or Cessnock have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Cessnock scores 919 vs 917 in Bellbird. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Bellbird or Cessnock?
Cessnock scores 36/100 on walkability vs 0/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Bellbird or Cessnock?
Gross rental yield on houses is 4.91% in Bellbird vs 4.59% in Cessnock. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
Keep comparing
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