Bellingen vs Fernmount
Bellingen (median $832,500) is roughly 26% cheaper to buy into than Fernmount ($1,120,000). Over the past year, Fernmount (+12%) ran 15.5 percentage points ahead of Bellingen (-3.5%) on house-price growth.
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Bellingen and Fernmount side by side
| Measure | Bellingen | Fernmount |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $832,500 | $1,120,000 |
| Median unit | $240,480 | $240,480 |
| House price change, 12 months | -3.5% | +12.0% |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $645/wk | $645/wk |
| Owner occupied | 71.0% | 83.0% |
| Renter occupied | 26.0% | 11.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 3 | 6 |
| Average ICSEA | 1014 | 1024 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 76 | 0 |
| Transit score | 0 | 0 |
| Bike score | 0 | 0 |
| Population | 3,923 | 444 |
| Median age | 44 | 46 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 1597 mm | 1502 mm |
| Mean max, January | 28.7°C | 28.5°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
Bellingen scores higher on walkability (76/100 vs 0/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Fernmount (1024) sits above Bellingen (1014). Fernmount skews owner-occupied (83%), Bellingen runs more rental-dense (71% owner).
- For buyers
- Bellingen is the lower entry point at $832,500 median, 26% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
- For investors
- Investors face a yield-versus-growth split: Bellingen delivers the better gross yield (4.03% vs 2.99%), but Fernmount has run faster on capital growth this year. The right pick depends on whether you're optimising for cash flow or capital appreciation.
- For families
- Fernmount edges out on average school ICSEA (1024 vs 1014). Fernmount also has a higher family-household share (84% vs 66%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Bellingen vs Fernmount: common questions
Is Bellingen or Fernmount cheaper to buy in?
Bellingen has the lower median house price at $832,500, roughly 26% below Fernmount ($1,120,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Bellingen or Fernmount?
Over the past 12 months, Fernmount grew +12% vs -3.5% in Bellingen, a gap of 15.5 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 Bellingen or Fernmount have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Fernmount scores 1024 vs 1014 in Bellingen. 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, Bellingen or Fernmount?
Bellingen scores 76/100 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, Bellingen or Fernmount?
Gross rental yield on houses is 4.03% in Bellingen vs 2.99% in Fernmount. 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
The two suburbs
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